Anthropomorphising Machines and Computerising Minds: The Crosswiring of Languages between Artificial Intelligence and Brain & Cognitive Sciences

IF 4.2 3区计算机科学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Minds and Machines Pub Date : 2024-04-25 DOI:10.1007/s11023-024-09670-4

Luciano Floridi, Anna C Nobre

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Abstract

The article discusses the process of “conceptual borrowing”, according to which, when a new discipline emerges, it develops its technical vocabulary also by appropriating terms from other neighbouring disciplines. The phenomenon is likened to Carl Schmitt’s observation that modern political concepts have theological roots. The authors argue that, through extensive conceptual borrowing, AI has ended up describing computers anthropomorphically, as computational brains with psychological properties, while brain and cognitive sciences have ended up describing brains and minds computationally and informationally, as biological computers. The crosswiring between the technical languages of these disciplines is not merely metaphorical but can lead to confusion, and damaging assumptions and consequences. The article ends on an optimistic note about the self-adjusting nature of technical meanings in language and the ability to leave misleading conceptual baggage behind when confronted with advancement in understanding and factual knowledge.

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机器拟人化与思想计算机化：人工智能与脑科学和认知科学之间的语言交织

文章讨论了 "概念借用 "的过程，根据这一过程，当一门新学科出现时，它也会通过挪用其他相邻学科的术语来发展自己的技术词汇。这种现象被比作卡尔-施密特（Carl Schmitt）关于现代政治概念具有神学根源的观点。作者认为，通过广泛的概念借用，人工智能最终将计算机拟人化地描述为具有心理特性的计算大脑，而脑科学和认知科学最终将大脑和思维以计算和信息的方式描述为生物计算机。这些学科的技术语言之间的交织不仅仅是一种隐喻，还可能导致混淆、破坏性的假设和后果。文章最后乐观地指出，语言中的技术含义具有自我调整的性质，当面对理解和事实知识的进步时，人们有能力抛开误导性的概念包袱。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Minds and Machines 工程技术-计算机：人工智能

CiteScore

12.60

自引率

2.70%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Minds and Machines, affiliated with the Society for Machines and Mentality, serves as a platform for fostering critical dialogue between the AI and philosophical communities. With a focus on problems of shared interest, the journal actively encourages discussions on the philosophical aspects of computer science. Offering a global forum, Minds and Machines provides a space to debate and explore important and contentious issues within its editorial focus. The journal presents special editions dedicated to specific topics, invites critical responses to previously published works, and features review essays addressing current problem scenarios. By facilitating a diverse range of perspectives, Minds and Machines encourages a reevaluation of the status quo and the development of new insights. Through this collaborative approach, the journal aims to bridge the gap between AI and philosophy, fostering a tradition of critique and ensuring these fields remain connected and relevant.