Chollet names three paradigm shifts for AI; Gary Marcus pushes back on weighting
GaryMarcus · x · 2026-10-03
François Chollet outlined the three changes he sees as most important in current AI:
- Switching from a transductive to an inductive paradigm — "by far the biggest jump";
- Symbolic tool use, code execution, and harnesses;
- Training models on code execution and harnesses so they internalize symbolic behavior.
He added that today's AI systems have the highest symbolic affinity of any AI approach in 20 years. Gary Marcus agreed on the set but argued #1 can't work without #2 and #3, making symbolic tool use "absolutely essential" — leaving him uneasy about calling the paradigm switch the biggest jump. They concur on the list, differing only on weighting.
Related event: Chollet and Gary Marcus Debate AI Paradigm Shifts and Symbolic Tools(4 posts)→
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