Intelligence Can Not be Artificial

By Ali Ahmadizadeh, MD

Years ago, upon my arrival in Toronto, Canada, I visited an Iranian store. Like any expatriate, I was thrilled to immerse myself, even briefly, in an environment reminiscent of my homeland. As I explored and shopped, I approached the checkout counter with a full basket and, after a warm greeting, inquired about the Iranian business directory in Canada—commonly known in English as the Yellow Pages.

In the U.S. and Canada, the Yellow Pages is published annually, providing citizens with a free directory of various businesses. The cashier pointed toward the exit, indicating a collection of free magazines and brochures, one of which was the Iranian Yellow Pages. Excited, I walked over and discovered that the Iranian business directory was titled Zarvaragh (meaning gilded paper).

I was deeply impressed by the ingenuity of the translator who had chosen Zarvaragh as the equivalent of Yellow Pages. It was far more poetic and meaningful than the literal translation. Fortunately, the publisher’s email was listed in Zarvaragh, so I wrote to express my admiration, comparing the beauty of this translation to the remarkable works of Ahmad Shamlou—whose translations often surpassed the original texts in elegance and depth.

With this in mind, I started reflecting on modern translations and commonly used terms, aiming to approach them from a fresh perspective. One such term, in my opinion, that is fundamentally flawed in both English and Persian translation is Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The phrase artificial intelligence presents conceptual and linguistic issues. Yes, we can create artificial eyes, hands, legs, and even ears—but can we truly manufacture intelligence?

To me, the term artificial intelligence is inherently flawed in both English and Persian translations. Perhaps its widespread adoption is rooted in economic motives—subtly undermining trust in real intelligence, which encompasses essential human traits such as conscience, honor, kindness, mysticism, sincerity, and empathy. These qualities are intrinsic to intelligence but have been cleverly omitted from its artificial counterpart. The exaggerated portrayal of AI may lead to a diminished appreciation of true intelligence, stripping it of its human essence.

Given the fundamental problems with the term Artificial Intelligence, I believe we must exercise caution when translating it into any language, including Persian.

A new English terminology for Artificial Intelligence should be thought of, and I have no doubt that esteemed Persian literary scholars can craft a translation worthy of being another Zarvaragh.

 

Dr. Ahmadizadeh is an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, N.Y.