The intersection of artificial intelligence and human cognition is shaping up to be one of the defining discussions of our time. As technology advances, so do the ethical and existential questions it presents. Two recent books—Genesis by Eric Schmidt, Craig Munie, and Henry Kissinger, and A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett—offer deep insights into how AI is reshaping industries, society, and perhaps even human dignity itself. These perspectives are critical in understanding where intelligence—both human and artificial—is headed.
The Philosophical Dilemma: What Is Human Dignity?
It’s a term we hear often, but what does human dignity really mean? Philosophers have debated this for centuries, tracing its roots to free will, morality, and even shared effort. Immanuel Kant, for instance, tied dignity to moral agency—the ability of humans to make choices based on rational thought rather than impulse.
Others expanded this definition, emphasizing the moral duty to help others maintain well-being and recognizing the intrinsic value of human labor. These interpretations are important because they frame how we evaluate AI’s role in our future. If dignity is tied to free will, how does automation affect human agency? If it’s about shared effort, what happens when AI systems take over tasks once done by people?
Intelligence and the Brain: How Evolution Shaped Thinking
Max Bennett outlines five key evolutionary leaps that led to the human intelligence we recognize today. Each stage introduced a new cognitive capability, setting the foundation for more complex thought processes.
Here’s a brief look at these stages:
| Evolutionary Stage | Key Feature | Approximate Age |
|---|---|---|
| Steering Brain | Basic decision-making (e.g., moving toward food, away from predators) | 500 million years ago |
| Learning Brain | Memory and adaptation through experience | 450 million years ago |
| Imagining Brain | Simulation of possible futures, basic problem-solving | 320 million years ago |
| Social Brain | Complex social interactions and cooperation | 200 million years ago |
| Reasoning Brain | Abstract thought, long-term planning, symbolic reasoning | 70 million years ago |
Each stage built upon the last, allowing humans to go from simple stimulus-response behaviors to deep reasoning and creative thinking. The final stage—the reasoning brain—is what sets us apart from other species. It’s also the stage that AI is increasingly attempting to replicate.
The Prefrontal Cortex: The Home of Free Will
One of the most critical insights into intelligence comes from Richard Levy of the Paris Brain Institute. His research suggests that free will is not an abstract concept but a product of the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain allows us to deliberate, suppress impulses, and imagine alternative actions.
Without it, human decision-making would be purely reactive—dictated by immediate environmental cues rather than long-term reasoning. The neocortex, where the prefrontal cortex resides, is unique to mammals and plays a fundamental role in intelligence.
So, if AI is to develop human-like intelligence, does that mean it needs an artificial prefrontal cortex? And if AI begins to exhibit behaviors that resemble free will, how do we reconcile that with our own concept of human dignity?
Where AI Stands Today—and Where It’s Going
AI development has largely mirrored the evolutionary steps of intelligence, albeit at an accelerated pace. Today’s machine learning models are rapidly advancing through stages that once took millions of years for biological evolution to accomplish.
A few key developments highlight this trajectory:
- Steering & Learning AI: Early AI systems relied on basic pattern recognition and reinforcement learning, much like the primitive brains of early creatures.
- Imagining AI: Large language models (like ChatGPT) simulate possibilities, akin to how humans use imagination to problem-solve.
- Social AI: AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants are beginning to mimic human-like social interactions, though still with noticeable limitations.
- Reasoning AI (the next step?): The frontier of AI research involves enabling models to perform abstract reasoning and autonomous decision-making.
This last stage is where the real debate begins. If AI can reason, plan, and make independent decisions, what implications does that have for human agency? Would machines operating with “free will” challenge our understanding of what it means to be intelligent, or even what it means to be human?
The Ethical Crossroads: Can AI Respect Human Dignity?
The authors of Genesis argue that AI’s future impact on society must be measured against one core principle: the preservation of human dignity. But this is where things get tricky.
- If AI takes over jobs once performed by humans, does that erode the value of human labor?
- If AI systems influence decision-making, do they reduce our ability to exercise free will?
- If AI can simulate social interaction, does it redefine what it means to form relationships?
There’s no simple answer, but these questions underscore the need for thoughtful regulation, ethical AI development, and perhaps most importantly, a renewed focus on what makes human intelligence unique in the first place.
For now, one thing is certain: AI will continue to evolve, and how we define intelligence, agency, and dignity will evolve with it. Whether we like it or not, we’re in the midst of an intellectual revolution—one that challenges centuries-old ideas about what it means to think, to choose, and to be human.
