Looking for (Artificial) Intelligence
What is Artificial Intelligence? While we use the term ‘AI’ quite liberally, it is unclear what is meant by intelligence. Welcome to this hybrid seminar (on location or via Zoom) with Assistant Professor Dimitri Coelho Mollo from the University of Umeå for a deep dive into the more philosophical aspects of AI and the meaning of "intelligence".
What is Artificial Intelligence? While we use the term ‘AI’ quite liberally, it is unclear what is meant by intelligence. This is true not only of intelligence in artificial systems, as intelligence is a disputed notion in cognitive science and comparative psychology as well.
In this talk Dimitri Coelho Mollo first propose a general operationalisation of intelligence that can be applied to humans, non-human animals, and artificial systems. Second, he argues that current AI research uses different, complementary understandings of intelligence. This suggests that progress in AI may require reconciliation between the many competing approaches we have today.
...intelligence is a disputed notion in cognitive science and comparative psychology as well. /Dimitri Coelho Mollo
About Dimitri Coelho Mollo
"I am an Assistant Professor with focus in Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence.
My main areas of research are Philosophy of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Philosophy of Science. I am also interested in the ethics of current and future use of AI systems, Philosophy of Biology, Philosophy of Mind, and Philosophy of Climate Science. I am happy to supervise students in these areas.
My main focus is on foundational and epistemological issues in Artificial Intelligence and the cognitive sciences, regarding, among others, the concepts of representation, computation, and intelligence.
Questions that I have been tackling include:
- What are the best theories of representation and computation for the study of cognition and intelligence?
- Can we account for cognitive representation and computation in a scientifically-acceptable, mind-independent way? Do we actually need to?
- What roles do abstraction and idealisation play in our models of animal and artificial intelligence?
- What internal and external capacities and structures are required for intelligent behaviour?
- How should we characterise intelligent behaviour to start with?
- How can we understand the workings and impact of AI applications as individuals and as societies?
I make use of tools and results from philosophy and science in trying to answer these and related questions.
I have also a strong interest in scientific and philosophical communication and public engagement initiatives."
Welcome to register for this event!