Apple, AI, and the Illusion of Reasoning

“AI doesn’t reason. It just predicts what’s next.”

For many, that felt like a lightbulb moment. For those of us following the space closely, it was more of a reminder, one researchers have repeated for years.

Experts like Ramon Lopez de Mantaras Badia (CSIC) have long pointed out: large language models don’t understand. They don’t reason. They predict. They mimic. They respond based on patterns, not comprehension.

Still, for years, this nuance was often lost in the noise. Concern was labelled as pessimism. Caution, as anti-innovation.
So no, Apple didn’t uncover something new here. But their reach may finally help this message land.

But let’s also stay grounded.
Innovation thrives not just on breakthroughs, but on clear thinking.

At DisplayNote, we’re excited by what AI can do

AI can help teams collaborate better, communicate faster, or remove friction from their workday. But we’re also clear-eyed. Overestimating AI’s capabilities won’t push us forward. It just invites risk, confusion, and overpromising.

Let’s keep building. Let’s stay curious.

Reference to ‘The Illusion of Thinking, Apple Paper, June 2025 – https://ml-site.cdn-apple.com/papers/the-illusion-of-thinking.pdf