E10: AI or GI: Is it real?

We keep calling it Artificial Intelligence… but is it really?
 Or is it just a reflection of everything we’ve already said, thought, and shared?
 AI can be powerful—but it can’t choose.
 It can’t wonder. It can’t dream.
 That’s where Genuine Intelligence—GI—comes in.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to think, to feel, and to choose.
Because intelligence isn’t just about being smart—it’s about being human.

Transcript

Podcast Episode: "AI or GI?"

Welcome back to the podcast.

Today, I want to talk about something that’s becoming more and more a part of our everyday lives—something that’s already changing the way we think, work, create, and connect.

AI. Artificial Intelligence.

I’m sure you’ve heard that term more times than you can count—whether it’s in the news, on social media, in your workplace, or even in the apps you use every day. And let me say right off the bat—yes, AI is amazing. The things it can do, the speed at which it can learn and adapt—it’s genuinely impressive.

But as I was thinking about it more deeply, a question came to mind: is it really intelligence in the way we understand it? Or are we just calling it that?

Let’s unpack this.

What is Intelligence, Really?

When we think of intelligence, we often think of someone who’s smart—who knows a lot of things, who can think quickly, reason logically, solve problems. The dictionary defines intelligence as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. That sounds about right.

But there’s more to it than that, isn’t there?

Real intelligence—what I like to call genuine intelligence—has something more. It has consciousness. It has emotion. It has the ability to make mistakes, to choose, to break the rules, to defy logic. It has curiosity. It has soul.

Genuine Intelligence—GI—can look at a lion and call it an elephant, just because it feels like it. Not because it’s trying to deceive, but because it has the freedom to be wrong, to be playful, to experiment.

AI can’t do that. It’s not allowed to do that. It has to stick to the rules it’s been given. It can only work with the data it's been trained on. And sure, that data may come from millions of sources—books, websites, human conversations—but it’s still just that: a collection of input.

Artificial or Collective?

That’s why I wonder—is it even fair to call it artificial intelligence?
Because the word “artificial” suggests something synthetic, something fake. But AI is not fake—it’s real. The power, the output, the tools—it’s all real.

But is it intelligence in the true sense of the word? Or is it better described as collective intelligence? A mirror of our thoughts, our language, our knowledge, bundled up into a very efficient machine.

It doesn't think the way we do. It doesn’t wonder why the sun rises, or why we feel heartache. It doesn’t question its purpose. It just functions.

The Gift of Choice

And here’s where I think the real difference lies—choice.
Genuine intelligence can choose.

You and I—we can choose to do things that make no sense at all. We can take a leap of faith. We can take a risk that defies logic. We can change our minds halfway through a sentence. We can look at something wrong and say, “You know what? That’s still beautiful.”

AI doesn’t have that kind of freedom. It’s built to avoid mistakes. It’s designed to stay efficient, to give us what we want—quickly, correctly, and with minimal fuss.

But that’s not how life works, is it? Life is messy. Growth comes from making mistakes, from being wrong, from trying again. That’s what makes us human. That’s what makes intelligence genuine.

The Danger of Misunderstanding

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not anti-AI. Far from it.
 I use it. You probably do too. It can be a brilliant tool—a way to enhance what we do, to speed things up, to open new possibilities.

But here’s the thing: we need to understand what it is—and what it isn’t.

AI is not an entity of its own. It doesn’t have a heart. It doesn’t have intention. And when we start treating it like it does—when we hand over too much, rely on it too deeply, forget that it’s a tool—we risk losing something very important.

Our own agency. Our own intelligence.

Because if we’re not careful, we start outsourcing not just our tasks, but our thinking. Our decisions. Our creativity. Our responsibility.

And that’s dangerous.

AI in the Right Hands

Used wisely, AI is like a paintbrush. It can help us create things faster, experiment, test ideas. But it still needs us—the hand holding the brush, the mind behind the vision.

In the wrong hands, AI becomes a weapon. A way to manipulate, to deceive, to control.

But even that risk doesn’t come from the AI itself—it comes from us. From people. From those with power and agendas. That’s why conversations like this matter. We need to be aware. Thoughtful. Grounded.

We need to lead, not follow.

So What Now?

Here’s what I think:

AI is here. It’s not going away. And that’s okay. It’s a part of our world now, just like electricity once was, or the internet.

But let’s not forget to value GI—Genuine Intelligence.
The intelligence that wonders, feels, questions, dreams.
The intelligence that allows us to be wrong, to grow, to change our minds.
The intelligence that tells stories, shares laughter, and connects us—not because it’s programmed to—but because it wants to.

We are not machines. And that’s our strength.

Final Thoughts

So the next time you use AI—whether it’s to generate an idea, find a fact, or get something done—just pause for a moment and ask yourself:

What would I do without it?
 What do I bring to the table that it can’t?
 How do I make sure I’m still thinking for myself?

Because as impressive as AI is—it’s nothing without you.
And maybe, just maybe… the most powerful intelligence isn’t the one built in code, but the one that lives in curiosity, in creativity, and in choice.

Thanks for listening.
 If this made you think—even for a moment—share it with someone else. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next time,
 You are in my thoughts.