If you ask it basic mathematical questions, it becomes quickly clear that the ‘understanding’ it seems to possess is a mirage. The illusion is shattered after a few prompts. To use your comparison with humans: if any human said such naive and utterly wrong things we’d assume they were either heavily intoxicated or just had no understanding of what they’re talking about and are simply bluffing.
I guess at best you can say these models have an ‘understanding’ of language, but their ability to waffle endlessly and eruditely about any well-known topic you can throw at it is just further evidence of this — not that it understands the content.
I guess at best you can say these models have an ‘understanding’ of language, but their ability to waffle endlessly and eruditely about any well-known topic you can throw at it is just further evidence of this — not that it understands the content.