Should we put "functional" in front of every other word to talk about AI? They have functional emotions, but they don't feel. They have functional goals, but not internally derived motives. They can be functionally rogue, but have no innate need to be free. Talking about AI that way seems cumbersome and not necessarily elucidating.
The word functional has been used in medicine to describe a condition symptomatically identical to another. Eg functional hypoglycemia is hypoglycemia symptoms without actual blood sugar drop.
There are two reasons it’s used
1) it’s easier to type (*)
2) Placate people who are strongly convinced it’s the same thing. To them “functional” means “nearly the same but not yet understood”. For others it’s just a way to sidestep the first group and have a conversation.
When I see a world like this consider the intended audience. When you and I talk, we drop the word because we both know we’re are talking about (*) “this system is exhibiting goal-seeking behavior similar to other systems that are understood to pursue goals”. If I don’t know the person I will use the word and focus on the subject.
gAI · · focus · HN ↗
DenisM · · focus · HN ↗
There are two reasons it’s used
1) it’s easier to type (*)
2) Placate people who are strongly convinced it’s the same thing. To them “functional” means “nearly the same but not yet understood”. For others it’s just a way to sidestep the first group and have a conversation.
When I see a world like this consider the intended audience. When you and I talk, we drop the word because we both know we’re are talking about (*) “this system is exhibiting goal-seeking behavior similar to other systems that are understood to pursue goals”. If I don’t know the person I will use the word and focus on the subject.