Abstract: Among the various understandings of artificial superintelligence(ASI), the comparative explanation is the most common and familiar one. This explanation aligns with everyday cognition and is grounded in perceptual foundations; however, it falls into the fallacy of intuition. The substantive explanation is the one closest to the current development of artificial intelligence science. The scientific community regards selfawareness, first-person experience, machine experience, self-evolution, and similar concepts as key issues, thereby approaching the autonomy of machines more closely; however, it is likely to lapse into the metaphysical explanations of technology. The functional explanation is the most philosophical one in that it places people squarely before ontological problems and reveals deep, overlooked issues. Last, the narrative explanation views ASI as a driving force for reconstructing human civilization, with its significance yet to be fully revealed.
Keywords: artificial superintelligence (ASI); comparative explanation; substantive
explanation; functional explanation; narrative explanation
Author: Yang Qingfeng
Source: Yang, Q. F. (2026). Four explanations of artificial superintelligence. Journal of Northeastern University (Social Science), (5), 23-30.
Publish date: 2026/9/9
Original Link: 
超级智能的四种解释_杨庆峰.pdf
