But what if the meaning of AI is not to be found in the way it competes with, supersedes or supplants us? What if, like the emergence of network theory, its purpose is to open our eyes and minds to the reality of intelligence as something doable in all kinds of fantastic ways, many of them beyond our own rational understanding?

The ability to predict what others are thinking is called theory of mind, and it is considered exclusive to humans (and possibly, under some circumstances, great apes). Some tests suggest that AI does have theory of mind, but, like many other aspects of AI, that remains controversial, as it could be a convincing illusion.