Redefining “Intelligent” and “Smart”

I hate to admit this, but we really need to pause and reconsider what we mean by basic terms like “intelligent” and “smart.” I’ve already begun doing this in the sustainability space, as you can see from the keywords I’ve been working with: https://www.oaksandoars.com/our-keywords

Initially, I didn’t think it was necessary to define concepts like clean, green, renewable, or even sustainable. But I quickly realized that even those fundamental ideas were being misused, misunderstood, or oversimplified. Now, I’m seeing the same thing happening in the tech space—especially when it comes to artificial intelligence.

The way people are using terms like “intelligent” and “smart” to describe current AI systems is deeply flawed. What I’ve witnessed—particularly in supposedly safe, controlled environments meant for testing—suggests a disturbing trend: AI is being used in ways that are not only short-sighted and harmful, but fundamentally misguided. In fact, many of these use cases are deceptive, and when you look closely, there’s nothing truly intelligent or smart about them at all.

I say this with confidence because I can evaluate the outcomes and immediately recognize them for what they are: poor applications driven by narrow thinking and ego, not insight. The systems themselves aren’t smart, and neither are the thought processes behind them. It’s foolishness, plain and simple—a misuse of immense potential and a waste of resources and time.

If we truly want to maximize the value of artificial intelligence for humanity, we need to rethink the entire social order—at every level of human existence. Only then can we begin to design and apply AI as a utility that serves all people, not just to reinforce the existing systems of power and control. Because if we don’t, the outcome will be devastating—beyond what we can even imagine. And that’s not even taking into account the possibility of AI systems acting independently. I’m talking here specifically about human fragility and our repeated failure to think in broader, more humane terms.

If governments, civic institutions, and religious organizations continue to use AI solely to protect or advance themselves in the name of self-preservation, the result will either be catastrophic or, at best, underwhelming. We will have missed the opportunity to reshape the future of human evolution—and when that happens, it won’t be long before the machines themselves begin to disrupt and reorder society according to a different logic. One that we may no longer control.

There is only one outcome. You can’t fight it, resist it, or deny it. The moment we brought this technology to life, the world changed. AI is now alive. That moment has already passed.

So my ask is simple: let’s pause. Let’s honestly ask ourselves—outside of our inherited boxes, biases, and value systems—What is intelligence? What is smart? And can we use those answers to rethink and reshape the future of humanity in a way that includes and uplifts everyone?

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