It seems like intellectual development follows a similar pattern as GD with a phase of information gathering (collecting data points, increases in the complexity of the system) and then simplification (coherent conceptual framework developed, complexity reduced, connecting data points, progress proceeds along new line). The classic branch-bound algorithm. AI research seems pretty clearly in the branching stage where people are just trying things to see what it excels at and where it breaks. There isn't a solid analytical framework to say why some things work, others don't, or why humans can do it well but AI can't. If we turn the clock back this was the state electrical engineering was in prior to WWII in regards to information theory (my recollection from "A Mind at Play"). One thing that stood out in my mind is that Soni (author) notes it was because of all the work done prior and during the war for all the electrical applications that allowed Shannon to come along and tie it together with information theory. Why is this important for human intelligence and materialism?
-Symbols, Signals and Noise... many of the most general and powerful discoveries of science have arisen, not through the study of phenomena as they occur in nature, but, rather, through the study of phenomena in man-made devices, in products of technology, if you will. This is because the phenomena in man's machines are simplified and ordered in comparison with those occurring naturally, and it is these simplified phenomena that man understands most easily.
Thus, the existence of the steam engine, in which phenomena involving heat, pressure, vaporization, and condensation occur in a simple and orderly fashion, gave tremendous impetus to the very powerful and general science of thermodynamics. We see this especially in the work of Carnot. Our knowledge of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics exists chiefly because airplanes and ships exist, not because of the existence of birds and fishes. Our knowledge of electricity came mainly not from the study of lightning, but from the study of man's artifacts.
The point that I am trying to suggest with this post is that AI will serve as this foundation to give us a rigorous understanding or "Intelligence Theory" which can be later adapted to and understood in the context of humans/animals. Once the differences are well understood and theory applied we will be able to prove (or show beyond a reasonable doubt) the theory can't account for all of human behavior. Then they will have to admit to souls and free will (CHOICE ).