If you care about context, I shall remind you that the original question was:
"Are we sure what is being simulated here is cognitive? It seems to me merely mechanical."
This is analogous to asking "are you sure this is done by humans rather than animals?" The question makes sense and is valid. To answer it with "humans are merely animals" would not address the subject at hand and, again, would have specific connotations.
I see that this kind of semantic acrobatics is extremely common in discussions of AI on HN.
"Are we sure what is being simulated here is cognitive? It seems to me merely mechanical."
This is analogous to asking "are you sure this is done by humans rather than animals?" The question makes sense and is valid. To answer it with "humans are merely animals" would not address the subject at hand and, again, would have specific connotations.
I see that this kind of semantic acrobatics is extremely common in discussions of AI on HN.