Super intelligence can rival Human intelligence but cannot replace it
By Alex Chang
On June 18, 2025, a professional scientist named Svante Pääbo announced a breakthrough in understanding our ancient relatives (Denisovans). Using DNA extracted from a tooth cavity on a nearly 150,000-year-old skull found in China, researchers confirmed the fossil, nicknamed “Dragon Man”, belonged to the cousin of a human species. This discovery, made possible by cutting-edge genetic analysis using AI, underscores the astonishing capabilities of modern technology. But a provocative question arises : if machines can reconstruct the face of a long-lost species, can they one day replicate the human mind?
The short answer: not quite.
AI systems have made major strides. From decoding ancient text to writing symphonies, the machines now can perform tasks once thought uniquely human.
While AI can process data at lightning speed and identify patterns invisible to us, it lacks human consciousness, the one thing that makes us unique.
The Denisovan (Ancient relatives) discovery is a case in point. AI helped extract and analyze, but it was human curiosity that asked the right questions. Human imagination gave “Dragon Man” a face. Machines provided the tools; humans provided the meaning.
Some people argue that once AI matches the brain’s processing power it will achieve equivalence to human intelligence. But the human brain capacity isn’t just about storage. It’s about the ability to reflect on one’s own thoughts. (The human brain became special after the cognitive revolution, it gave humans the power to imagine and think unlike other animals.) However advanced, AI has yet to demonstrate true self-awareness or moral reasoning.
Moreover, human thought is shaped by cultural and emotional factors that can’t be captured in code. A robot might simulate empathy, but it doesn’t feel the emotions like humans can. It can copy creativity, but it doesn’t dream.
But, that’s not to say AI isn’t transforming. It’s revolutionizing science, medicine, and many more areas. But Instead of it replacing human thought. It should be amplifying our strengths while reminding us of what makes us irreplaceable.
As we wonder at the face of a Denisovan, let’s remember: the tools may evolve, but the questions remain deeply, gorgeously human.
Call to Action: Let’s invest in AIs that boost human potential, not those that seeks to replace us
Sources:
https://cen.acs.org/business/informatics/Artificial-intelligence-great-job-maker/103/i3
https://www.acsh.org/news/2025/02/18/will-artificial-intelligence-replace-human-psychiatrists-48921