I agree with your point overall in terms of AI not actually learning (I'd describe it as optimizing).
However, I will say that inferring from what is not said is a tricky one to apply generally, which you do in your reply by jumping to conclusions as follows:
The fact that they refused to reply hints that the reply would be against their best interests, either lying in a liable way or saying the truth and potentially ruining their investment.
This is dangerous, can be used disingenuously and I discourage using it in our discourse.
I do agree with you that it's tricky to apply, but it's still useful regardless; and while the danger that you're talking about is real, it has more to do with the certainty assigned to the inference than with the inference itself.
That's why I said it "hints that the reply…" instead of "means", or that the reason that Google answered is "likely related" - both words are there for a good reason, to highlight that this is not a conclusion. As in: it might be wrong, and both words acknowledge it.
Even not being solid info but just an inference, I still felt worth sharing for two reasons, that make the lack of reply noteworthy:
Google, OpenAI and Meta/Facebook are roughly in the same situation (contacted by the author due to LLM development), and yet only one answered. Why?
Politicians and corporations are generally eager to advertise their stuff, but extra careful with what they say on-record.
I agree with your point overall in terms of AI not actually learning (I'd describe it as optimizing).
However, I will say that inferring from what is not said is a tricky one to apply generally, which you do in your reply by jumping to conclusions as follows:
This is dangerous, can be used disingenuously and I discourage using it in our discourse.
I do agree with you that it's tricky to apply, but it's still useful regardless; and while the danger that you're talking about is real, it has more to do with the certainty assigned to the inference than with the inference itself.
That's why I said it "hints that the reply…" instead of "means", or that the reason that Google answered is "likely related" - both words are there for a good reason, to highlight that this is not a conclusion. As in: it might be wrong, and both words acknowledge it.
Even not being solid info but just an inference, I still felt worth sharing for two reasons, that make the lack of reply noteworthy: