Hinton argues the brain is analog: LLMs simulate intelligence's output, not intelligence itself
AlexTensor · x · 2026-10-12
Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton argues the brain is a physical, fully analog learning system that computes via the laws of physics, so intelligence itself cannot be reproduced or simulated digitally—digitization loses the infinite resolution of reality. He calls out the industry assumption that "any theory of the brain can be simulated on a digital computer" as false, and contends LLMs only simulate the output of intelligence, not intelligence itself. A provocative big-picture stance, contested but widely discussed.
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