I am currently working as a filmmaker for Human Energy. I am in the early stages of producing a documentary, described below. The short video posted above explains the central theme.

Do Computers Think? Do Minds Compute?

 

There is broad consensus that artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the way human society works. However, there is little agreement—and even less clarity—about the nature of the changes taking place. Is AI simply another tool, or does it represent something profoundly different from previous technologies?

As AI evolves at an unprecedented rate, influencing nearly every aspect of life, understanding its true nature and long-term implications has become an ever more critical task. We are in the early stages of producing a documentary that seeks to advance that understanding, using film to explore how AI development can contribute to a positive and flourishing future for humankind.

Humanity has coevolved with technology for millennia, from stone tools and language to rockets and television. Technology has always driven the advance of civilization. So why does AI, unlike past innovations, seem to pose an existential crisis for humanity today?

One reason is the growing belief that AI is more than a tool—that it represents a new form of intelligence that could, in many ways, replace human minds. That concern stems from a widely held belief, known as the computational metaphor: that human and machine intelligence function in essentially the same way—as if the mind were a computer, processing information through algorithms and rules.

At the same time, there is powerful evidence that humans and computers process information, interpret meaning, and interact with the physical world in markedly different ways. How we understand these differences—or choose to overlook them—will guide our development of AI and materially affect its impact on society. If we continue to buy into the computational metaphor, we risk designing AI in ways that fail to account for what makes human thought unique. But if we recognize AI as fundamentally different from human intelligence, we can develop it to augment and complement rather than distort or displace human minds.

These differences present an opportunity—one in which AI and human intelligence complement one another, forming symbiotic relationships that benefit individuals and society at large. The challenge ahead is not whether symbiosis is possible, but how we choose to shape their relationship to align with human values, vision, and goals.

As AI reshapes the world, it’s crucial to understand its true nature—and just as important to recognize the unique and irreplaceable qualities of human minds. This documentary project moves beyond common assumptions to reveal deeper insights into the evolving relationship between human and machine intelligence. By fostering this understanding, we hope to contribute to a future where AI expands human potential and points the way toward yet-undreamed-of frontiers.