# The Role of Large Language Models in Reflecting Human Cognition - Proposition By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2025-09-07 Let's suppose that computers can represent any natural computational process, which the Church-Turing Hypothesis and our practical observations of computers and reality support. Of course, this does not mean that the computer process is the natural computation process; it is merely a representative model of the natural process. So, what are Large Language Models (e.g., the 2020s version of AI) other than a representation of how humans naturally weave together language and knowledge? It's certainly not exactly how humans do it, but it's representative of the process. However, since these models represent how we communicate via language with deep knowledge integration, they are helpful in entirely different ways that are more natural than anything we've ever built. The nature of models is a continuous improvement towards the natural thing they represent. It was only a matter of time until the average person ceased being able to discern between nature and model. We've approached such a moment with today's LLMs. This naturally raises many concerns, none of which are entirely new. Great thinkers have thought about such things for a long time. The issue at hand is not how to deal with the goodness or badness of such events, the flaws of models, or the naive responses to inevitable change, but with whether this new representation of natural language and knowledge is a better, more authentic representation of what makes us unique: the ability to think. LLMs are the closest things we've created that think like we do, but they have orders of magnitude more knowledge built into them. This knowledge should not be confused with wisdom or judgment. But it has been said to imagine what a human would do with 1% of all the knowledge that is baked into an LLM. Who knows what kind of interesting things a conscious being with the ability to think would do? Thus, as with any technology, we are continuing to extend beyond ourselves. LLMs are a representation and reflection of us, so we should be cautious. It is crucial to be aware of the potential risks and responsibilities that come with their adoption. But it is foolish to reject them as a means of extending our thinking beyond the reaches of our limited existence. #### Related Items [[Artificial Intelligence]] [[Thinking]] [[Consciousness]] [[Technology]] [[Change]] [[The Human Condition]] [[Dialogue - The Role of Large Language Models in Reflecting Human Cognition]]