The 8 fundamental principles for the future of artificial intelligence

In a series of interviews conducted by Marcus Weldon for Newsweek, three experts (roboticist Rodney Brooks, neuroscientist David Eagleman, and innovator Yann LeCun) outlined eight fundamental principles for the future of AI.

Principle 1: We think it’s magic (but it’s not)

Rodney Brooks: “If it seems like magic, then you don’t understand… and you shouldn’t buy something you don’t understand.” We’re like children in front of a magic trick — this tendency to see AI as a new super-smart friend prevents us from seeing its true limits.

Principle 2: Intelligence is much more than a score

David Eagleman: “We don’t have a single definition of intelligence. When we ask if AI is truly intelligent, we don’t even have a clear criterion for measuring that!” Intelligence encompasses creativity, emotional understanding, moral conscience, and physical coordination — not just equations or memorization.

Principle 3: AI must learn to think before it speaks

Based on Kahneman’s System 1 (fast) and System 2 (slow, reflective). Current AIs are stuck in System 1 mode. Yann LeCun: “A LLM produces one word after another, it’s reactive… there’s no real reasoning.” For AI to become really useful, it needs to develop its System 2.

Principle 4: Words are not enough

David Eagleman: “The connection we have through language is ridiculously low-bandwidth.” Current AIs are stuffed with texts but not with direct experiences. AI needs to go beyond words and understand the world in a more complete way.

Principle 5: A society of AIs rather than a super-AI

Forget the idea of an all-knowing AI that can do everything. Yann LeCun: “It will be an interactive society of machines. You’ll have AI systems that are smarter than others and can neutralize them.” Moravec’s paradox: computers have been able to beat us in chess for decades but are useless at what a one-year-old can do effortlessly.

Principle 6: Humans will be the bosses, not the machines

AIs won’t have “free will” and will be designed with built-in limits. Yann LeCun: “Everyone will become a sort of CEO, or at least a manager. Humanity will rise in the hierarchy. We will have a level below us, that of AI systems.”

Principle 7: Being intelligent isn’t everything in life

Yann LeCun: “People give too much credit to pure intelligence. It’s not the only force that matters — there are also physical, biological forces… Look at current politics, it’s not really the brightest who are in charge!” An AI can be super smart but can do nothing against a tsunami, a power outage, or even a human who simply unplugs the cord.

Principle 8: We want AIs that are predictable and respect our values

Yann LeCun: “It takes a collaborative effort to design these systems aligned with human values… the best way is to do it openly and collaboratively… so that anyone can build upon it and retain their own sovereignty.” Not just Western values or those of a tech elite, but the values of each and every one of us.