[TheOtherHobbes]

Dogs certainly do understand things. Dogs and cats have a theory of mind and can successfully manipulate and trick their owners - and each other.

Our perceptions are shaped by our cognitive limitations. A dog doesn't know what the Internet is, and completely lacks the cognitive capacity to understand it.

An ASI would almost certainly develop some analogous technology or ability, and it would be completely beyond us.

That does NOT mean we would notice we were being affected by that technology.

Advertising and manufactured addictions make people believe external manipulations are personal choices. An ASI would probably find similar manipulations trivial.

But it might well be capable of more complex covert manipulations we literally can't imagine.

[card_zero]

Dogs certainly do not understand things. Do they enquire? What are some good dog theories? They have genetic theories. We breed theories into them.

[pyman]

Yes, dogs can think and make choices, learn from experience, solve problems (like opening doors or finding hidden treats), and adapt to new situations.

The reason I mentioned my dog is because, even though dogs have limited intelligence compared to humans, my dog thinks he's better at playing ball than me. What he doesn't know is that I let him win because it makes him feel in control.