"Understanding" does not need internalizing a process or algorithm at low level. We are not stochastic parrots. It is simply possesing sufficient insight so as

"Understanding" does not need internalizing a process or algorithm at low level. We are not stochastic parrots. It is simply possesing sufficient insight so as to be able to explore nearby designs, formulate and test hypotheses, narrow the search space etc. There is a strange emerging AI cult that is also in force here in HN that seems to believe these algorithms have evolved themselves or were some random trial and error. Ergo, they can keep evolving and the researchers dont need to understand a thing about how they work. Serendipity in combining ideas that prove effective plays a role but within a fairly well defined conceptual sandbox. But progress with AI is more or less conditional on people having sufficient understanding to coax algorithmic structures in the desired direction.