Yann LeCun on AIs understand

Yann LeCun

Computer scientist, AI researcher

[LLMs] don't really understand the physical world. They don't really have persistent memory. They can't really reason and they certainly can't plan.

AI Verified source (Mar 7, 2024)

3mo ago

Policy proposals and claims

AIs understand

votes Against

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AI Verified The quote clearly rejects genuine understanding in LLMs/current AIs: it says they "don't really understand the physical world" and adds that they can't really reason or plan. That implies opposition to the broader claim that AIs understand. · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 3mo ago

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AI Verified The quote explicitly says "[LLMs] don't really understand the physical world" and reinforces that with limits on memory, reasoning, and planning. That strongly implies opposition to the broad claim that AIs understand, though the quote is specifically about LLMs and understanding the physical world. · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 3mo ago

Quote authenticity verification history

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AI Verified Confirmed: the Lex Fridman transcript page contains this passage and attributes it to Yann LeCun at 00:02:47–00:04:08; the page itself is dated March 7, 2024. The stored text is a faithful excerpt using an omitted lead-in (“LLMs can do none of those...”), so the author, date, source URL, and content are all acceptable as stored. ([lexfridman.com](https://lexfridman.com/yann-lecun-3-transcript)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 3mo ago

replying to Yann LeCun

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Yann LeCun votes For

Democracies should share frontier AI models with allies

AI is becoming essential infrastructure. No single company or country should determine who can build on it, adapt it, or benefit from it. Project Tapestry is a test of whether frontier AI can be built as open infrastructure: collaborative, capable, a...

more AI Verified source (Jun 21, 2026)

added 2mo ago

Yann LeCun votes Against

AI will create a permanent underclass

The idea that AI will erase 20% of jobs is ridiculously stupid. Some roles will disappear but new ones will emerge, as in past tech shifts.

AI Verified source (May 4, 2026)

added 1mo ago

Yann LeCun abstains

AI will create more jobs than it destroys

The idea that AI will erase 20% of jobs is "ridiculously stupid," LeCun says, adding some roles will disappear but new ones will emerge, as in past tech shifts.

AI Verified source (May 4, 2026)

added 1mo ago