Brain Imaging Reveals Human Intelligence Operates Beyond Language, Challenging AI Superintelligence Claims

Nov 25, 2025
The Verge
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Summary

Groundbreaking brain imaging research reveals human intelligence operates independently of language through distinct neural networks, fundamentally undermining tech industry claims that scaling large language models can achieve superintelligence since AI only predicts text patterns while missing non-linguistic reasoning, abstraction, and creativity that define true human cognition.

Key Points

  • Current neuroscience research demonstrates that human thinking operates largely independent of language, with brain imaging showing distinct neural networks for cognitive tasks versus linguistic abilities
  • Large language models fundamentally only predict text correlations from training data and cannot replicate the non-linguistic aspects of human intelligence like reasoning, abstraction, and creative paradigm shifts
  • Tech CEOs' promises of superintelligent AI are scientifically flawed because scaling language models cannot produce general intelligence when language serves merely as a communication tool rather than the source of thought itself

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