Even if We Can't Define "AI," We Can Use It

We might agree that defining “artificial intelligence” is difficult. But lots of common and foundational concepts likewise are very-difficult to impossible to define in ways that most of us would accept. We are simply going to learn to use the tools without being able to define it with rigor and high degrees of shared meaning, in all likelihood. 

Concept	Description	Example/Insight
Love	Encompasses multiple types (romantic, familial, platonic); varies across cultures; both emotion and choice	Parent's love continues despite child's actions, suggesting it's more than just positive feelings
Intelligence	Involves multiple faculties (logical, emotional, social); culturally relative; constantly debated in science	Someone might excel at abstract math but struggle with practical problems
Art	Boundaries constantly shift; subjective appreciation; includes both traditional and conceptual forms	Is a child's drawing art? Is an AI-generated image art?
Time	Both physical and psychological component; experienced differently by different people; philosophical debates about nature	Feels slower when waiting, faster during enjoyment
Health	Balance of physical, mental, social wellbeing; cultural variations; constantly evolving standards	Someone might be physically fit but mentally stressed
Success	Highly personal; culturally dependent; changes over life stages; multiple dimensions	Career success vs. personal fulfillment
Consciousness	Self-awareness varies; subjective experience; philosophical zombie problem	Different states like sleep, meditation challenge definitions
Happiness	Mix of temporary pleasure and lasting contentment; individual variation; cultural differences	Can someone be happy while suffering?