Intelligence and Wisdom: A Crucial Distinction

In the opening talk for the Varela Symposium, Professor John Dunne explores the relationship between wisdom and intelligence, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). He differentiates between intelligence as a problem-solving tool and wisdom as encompassing the capacity for compassion. A key concept Dunne introduces is “Bodhisattva AI,” an AI designed to maximize intelligence by broadening its scope of care to include all sentient beings, aligning AI goals with Buddhist values of alleviating suffering. Dunne critiques conventional goals and cultural assumptions embedded within AI systems, questioning definitions of “flourishing” and the influence of AI on human values. He also addresses the limitations of conceptual systems in capturing reality, stressing that AI lacks a fundamental connection to concrete experience.