Over the last few years, breakthroughs in AI have been almost too numerous to track. Chatbots can now pass the same exams required of doctors and lawyers. A cancer drug designed by AI has entered clinical trials. AI agents are serving as autonomous personal assistants.
There have even been reports that AI can smell.
“Computers Are Learning to Smell,” declared The Atlantic. “AI is digitizing our se...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a critical blind spot in AI development: the neglect of olfaction despite its fundamental role in human cognition. The article rightly credits researchers like Kordel France and Barry Smith for pushing boundaries, while acknowledging the historical undervaluation of smell—a bias echoed by figures like Kant and Darwin. The piece avoids sensationalism, instead grounding its claims in verifiable research gaps and industry applications. However, it ...