No. 75 (2026): Mayo-agosto
Filosofía en el espacio público

Artificial Intelligence, Superintelligence, and Cognitive Enhancement

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  • Daniel Augusto Duarte Arias
Daniel Augusto Duarte Arias Universidad de San Buenaventura, Bogota image/svg+xml

Published 2026-04-01

How to Cite

Duarte Arias, D. A. (2026). Artificial Intelligence, Superintelligence, and Cognitive Enhancement. Tópicos, Revista De Filosofía, 75, 503-540. https://doi.org/10.21555/top.v750.3280

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Abstract

Transhumanism is a philosophical movement that considers the attainment of a higher evolutionary stage possible because of the feasibility of the “singularity.” Some positions consider that this is not possible due to the intrinsic limits of artificial intelligence (AI). I claim that, despite the impossibility of reaching superhuman stages, AI satisfies the criteria of cognitive enhancement (at some restorative level and within limits). This enhancement manifests itself in specific capabilities that result in an increase that transcends human limits but does not lead to a higher evolutionary stage. To defend this, I examine what AI, artificial superintelligence (AIS), and the singularity are; subsequently I  discuss some objections to the possibility of achieving a general artificial intelligence (GAI) drawn from John Searle, Roger Penrose, and Hubert Dreyfus; finally, I argue (by means of a taxonomy) at which levels AI can be said to represent cognitive enhancement.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence,
  • weak IA,
  • strong IA,
  • cognitive enhancement,
  • singularity,
  • superintelligence,
  • transhumanism,
  • superhuman,
  • qualitative experience,
  • extended mind
    • ...More
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