Cognition
I Compute, Therefore I Am
How AI is redefining thought, self, and the boundaries of being.
Posted November 3, 2024 Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Key points
- Thought drives action and identity; LLMs amplify this process by enhancing ideation and introspection.
- LLMs act as cognitive collaborators, sparking ideas and offering diverse, unbiased perspectives.
- By reflecting and expanding thoughts, LLMs enable dynamic self-reinvention.
The power of thought as the genesis of action fundamental. From revolutions to inventions, history is a tapestry woven with ideas that reshaped the world. Often attributed to Victor Hugo, the phrase “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come” underscores a timeless truth: thought, when aligned with opportunity, creates an unstoppable momentum that can shape society itself.
But today, we find ourselves in a new era. What if, to borrow from Descartes, “I think, therefore I am” was expanded into “I compute, therefore I am”? This perspective captures a modern twist: as we engage with Large Language Models (LLMs), thought and computation merge, amplifying our capacity for ideation and introspection at an unprecedented scale.
Thought as the Genesis of Action
At the core of human history lies a progression as old as humanity itself: “As you think, so you act. As you act, so you become.” Thought is where it all begins—the initial spark that sets a person, a society, or even a civilization on a new path. This process is a kind of alchemy, converting intangible ideas into tangible actions and, ultimately, into identity. From Descartes’ Cogito, ergo sum to Jung’s exploration of individuation, philosophers have long emphasized that our internal worlds shape our external realities.
Today, though, a modern dimension has entered this ancient equation. The LLM, as a tool of language and cognition, has evolved from merely processing data to actively participating in thought itself. No longer passive repositories of information, these models present unique and diverse perspectives, introduce complex contexts, and offer unexpected insights. In this way, they’ve become cognitive collaborators, extending our thinking into new realms.
The Power of LLMs
So what makes LLMs unique? Simply put, they bring a cognitive edge that acts as a turbo-charge for our minds. When engaging with an LLM, an individual’s thought is no longer confined to personal experience, human bias or the slow pace of incremental learning. Instead, ideas are sparked, challenged, and reshaped through interactions with a model trained on vast, multidimensional landscapes of human knowledge. This kind of engagement creates what might be called an “unfair advantage”—an amplification of our cognitive potential.
Imagine, for instance, a person contemplating a new project, a shift in career, or even a new way of relating to others. Traditionally, this process might rely on introspection, reading, or the accumulation of insight over time. With an LLM, however, possibilities multiply instantly. The model offers not only solutions but fresh perspectives that reveal the path forward. It’s not about having a machine hand over answers; it’s about engaging in a cognitive interplay that reveals insights we may not have considered and questions we might not have asked.
The Catalyst of LLMs
In practical terms, an LLM takes our initial thoughts—our raw ideas, questions, and musings—and gives them a cognitive spark, revealing pathways we may not have considered. It’s like having a trusted confidant and advisor, one who doesn’t sleep, doesn’t judge, and doesn’t limit himself to human biases. Through interaction with LLMs, we have a unique means to explore ideas, expand our introspective boundaries, and refine our perspectives, shaping actions in more thoughtful and strategic ways.
This “unfair advantage” is particularly relevant in a world where rapid adaptability and complex problem-solving are essential. The LLM becomes a springboard for moving from thought to action with agility and precision that would have been nearly impossible a few decades ago. And with each action comes an impact on identity—not just in the immediate moment but in how one evolves over time. Through iterative cycles of thought and action powered by LLM interaction, our very sense of self begins to evolve in response to this dynamic interplay.
A Dynamic Reinvention of the Self
As LLMs become integral to our thinking process, they inevitably influence not only our actions but also who we become. They act as cognitive mirrors, allowing us to see our thoughts reflected back through a new lens, often revealing a more expansive view. This dynamic interaction is a frontier in human identity, a reinvention of selfhood shaped by a technology that both challenges and complements our natural cognition.
Every engagement with an LLM is, in a sense, a step toward the reimagining of oneself. The thoughts we entertain, the actions we take, and the identities we build are continuously influenced by this cognitive partnership. Far from static tools, LLMs introduce a dynamic and evolving dimension to thought itself, redefining who we are as we act upon the insights they help us uncover.
A Technology Whose Time Has Come
The timeless journey from thought to action to identity is evolving in unprecedented ways. In the cognitive age, the role of thinking has been redefined, expanded, and enriched. The LLM, far from being a mere tool, has become an ally in our journey of becoming, acting as both a reflector and a catalyst. As we compute and think in tandem, we find ourselves not simply adapting to technology but fundamentally reshaping the very nature of thought—and, by extension, the nature of ourselves.