Is "Reasoning" Just Another API Call?

The AI landscape is evolving to include both "smart" and "dumb" models, with a focus on cognitive engineering where smart models like those in the Thinking Claude project suggest that intelligent behavior may stem more from effective prompting than inherent capabilities. This shift emphasizes the importance of designing AI systems with distinct processing and output functions, akin to a computer's CPU and display, to handle complex reasoning while maintaining user-friendly interfaces. Building self-improving systems with feedback loops is crucial for enhancing reliability, allowing AI to refine its understanding and catch mistakes. Structuring AI with clear protocols and quality checks ensures robust, scalable systems, while fostering environments where natural reasoning can flourish. The future of AI engineering lies in developing cognitive architectures that emphasize information flow, reasoning, and continuous improvement, moving beyond simple prompt engineering to create AIs that genuinely think and adapt.