Blog Archive

Check out all blog posts in my blog archive. Click on a headline to read the teaser.

Meaning and the world: the symbol grounding problem

What is the meaning of the word 'red'? How do small children learn it? What about AI systems? Prof. Casey Kennington explains how natural languages are intrinsically linked to the real world, and how humans naturally ground symbols in their physical environment... in stark contrast with LLMs. Read More ›

Infinity is not everything

Generative AI is apparently on its way to dethrone human artists and scientists. But is it truly creative? In this post, we will take a deep dive into the linguistic and logical processes behind creativity, and ask which of those neural networks actually implement. Read More ›

The ethics of generalization

There are currently a lot of discussions about the impact of AI on society, with particular focus on the harmful biases learned by machine learning models. Flawed data is the most obvious culprit when it comes to the reproduction of prejudices, but the algorithms themselves are not innocent either. This blog entry explains the process of generalization in machines, and why it becomes particularly harmful when implemented in large, one-fits-all models. Read More ›

Making sense when nothing makes sense

Feeling overwhelmed by the world? The first entry of this blog is a remake of an old post, relating how different scientific theories of meaning explain humans' thirst for 'making sense'. Read More ›