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Graduates Applaud Steve Wozniak For Saying They Have 'AI, Actual Intelligence'

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ENRICHED

Description

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak received applause rather than boos from graduates at a commencement speech for telling them that they have “AI, Actual Intelligence.” During the Grand Valley State University Commencement Ceremony, Wozniak emphasised to graduates the value of human intelligence. “You all have AI, Actual Intelligence. My entire life in the technical world I’ve been following people who were trying to figure out how to make a brain. Software, hardware, synapse chips, and I was at a company where the engineers figured out how to make a brain: [it] takes nine months,” Wozniak said. The university bestowed Wozniak with an honorary degree during the ceremony, and noted that his legacy “reflects the power of curiosity, creativity, and innovation to change the world.” Wozniak’s comments received a warmer reception from graduates than other recent incidents, where commencement speakers were booed for discussing and praising artificial intelligence (AI). Credit: Grand Valley State University via Storyful

Summary

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak highlights the unique value of human cognition over artificial systems during a commencement speech at Grand Valley State University. By reframing 'AI' as 'Actual Intelligence,' Wozniak emphasizes the distinct biological complexity of the human brain compared to current software and hardware developments. The address touches on the limitations of synthetic brain replication, contrasting human creative potential with the technical challenges of mimicking synapses. This discussion serves as a high-level cultural commentary on the role of human agency amidst the rapid expansion of frontier AI capabilities, though it lacks specific technical safety frameworks.