Chomsky Slams AI Hype: LLMs Fail to Understand Language

Noam Chomsky, in a recent interview, critiques the current hype surrounding AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs). He argues that while LLMs show progress in mimicking human behavior, they are fundamentally engineering projects, not scientific endeavors, failing to grasp the essence of language. Chomsky points out that LLMs cannot distinguish between possible and impossible languages, preventing them from truly understanding language acquisition and cognition. He emphasizes the importance of scientific methodology and warns of potential ethical risks and societal dangers posed by AI, urging caution in its development.