AI and Human Cognition May Be Orthogonal, Not Competitive, Theorist Suggests

Leading innovation theorist John Nosta, in a recent Psychology Today article, proposes that artificial intelligence and human cognition operate on "imaginary axes of thought" rather than converging paths, a concept generating significant discussion among AI experts. Brian Roemmele, an AI advisor to El Salvador's President, endorsed the piece, stating, "AI and the Imaginary Axis of Thought"—Psychology Today. A really good read by my good friend ⁦@JohnNosta⁩.

Nosta's article, titled "AI and the Imaginary Axis of Thought," posits that AI's fluency does not equate to human understanding. He argues that AI may not be evolving along our cognitive axis but rotating away from it, similar to the mathematical concept of Euler's i, which creates a new dimension rather than extending the real line. This orthogonality suggests that human and AI minds are fundamentally different in their operational geometry.

Human cognition, Nosta explains, is built on continuity, where meaning is metabolized through lived experience, commitment, cost, and consequence, forming an identity. In contrast, large language models generate form without forming a self, collapsing possibilities without the identity or entropy cost inherent in human decision-making. This distinction highlights that while AI can mimic human output, the underlying processes and internal experiences are vastly dissimilar.

The theorist suggests that the common discourse of AI replacing or merging with human intelligence is based on a false premise of linear alignment. Instead, Nosta believes the future involves "co-angulation," where perpendicular minds create new directions of complex cognition that neither could generate alone. He emphasizes that this perspective removes the "zero-sum terror" often associated with AI discussions, promoting a view of independence rather than isolation.

Brian Roemmele, known for his work on personalized AI and as an influential voice in the field, highlighted Nosta's piece. Roemmele has previously discussed the potential for individuals to own private AI assistants and has advised on leveraging AI for economic growth and education, aligning with the broader implications of understanding AI's distinct operational framework. This perspective encourages a re-evaluation of how humans interact with and integrate AI into society.