I agree with this. I contend that as the AIs improve in performance, the designation of understanding will accrete to them. I predict there will never be a component, module, training process, or any other significant piece of an AI that is the ‘understanding’ piece that some believe is missing today.

Also, the widespread human belief that something is valuable has absolutely no entailments to me other than treating the believers with normal respect. It’s very easy to think of things that are important to billions that you believe are not true or relevant to a reality-driven life.