How well does AI handle everyday reasoning? Separating whites from darks before washing. Checking expiration dates while grocery shopping. If you see a “Wet Floor” sign, you walk carefully. When someone yawns repeatedly during a conversation, you might consider that they’re tired and shorten the discussion.
To evaluate the extent of AI’s capabilities about common sense, researchers frequently conduct multiple-choice tests that encompass a broad spectrum of everyday topics, including social, physical, and temporal knowledge. Language models have succeeded in tackling these questions. This demonstrates their capacity for reasoning. But some experts argue that this performance is deceptive. The model may simply be memorizing and regurgitating information, rather than learning and reasoning.
Peter Gärdenfors, a professor of Cognitive Science at Lund University in Sweden, has long been intrigued by AI. He argues that we are far from achieving AGI, Artificial General Intelligence. Even the most advanced AI that is highly specialized still lacks the adaptability of human intelligence. A two-year-old can grasp why someone is waving or fending off a fly, while AI only “sees” two distinct hand motions. AI lacks the ability to interpret social cues or understand intent. This is why sarcasm is especially challenging for AI systems. AI lacks creativity, emotions, and adaptability, even if programs can mimic human beings. A two-year-old quickly learns and adapts through play and experience, while AI is confined to the data it was programmed with. AI can handle routine situations much better than we do. However, they struggle with new problems.
What is “Common Sense”? It’s not just a collection of facts; it’s the ability to apply everyday knowledge to achieve practical goals. For AI, building common sense requires a foundational approach. AI must have reasons for its actions, which means instilling a sense of intent. To evolve, it must also be open to change when humans challenge its conclusions. It’s not just an accumulation of facts, but a system of beliefs and goals shaped by experience.