Weekly QuEST Discussion Topics, 26 Apr

Dr. Mike Young will present a talk “Consciousness and Knowing:  What Can be Known?”  The talk will cover the Matter as Awareness model of consciousness and discuss the basis of conceptual intelligence, including the implications for consciousness in plants, animals, humans and machines.

 

 

Weekly QuEST Discussion Topics, 12 Apr

Title:  Cognitive diversity in human and software agent communities

Abstract:  Cognitive diversity is a property of heterogeneous human
communities.  We believe it plays a key (positive) role in superior
organizational performance but, at the same time, a key (negative)
role in the fake news phenomenon.  In that context, we will review
a recent paper on the subject.

Cybenko, Anne K., and George Cybenko. “AI and Fake News.” IEEE Intelligent Systems 33.5 (2018): 1-5.

In addition, we will explore analogs, both positive and negative, of
cognitive diversity in software agent communities.

Weekly QuEST Discussion Topics, 5 Apr

Title: Software Social Organisms: A Path to Human-Level AI Kenneth D. Forbus, Northwestern University

Abstract:  This talk argues that learning how to create software social organisms will have a revolutionary impact on artificial intelligence.  I start by outlining the Companion cognitive architecture, which is our platform for exploring these ideas, including how it combines analogy, qualitative reasoning, language, and sketch understanding to model a variety of cognitive phenomena.  Then I describe two explorations in more detail.  The first is analogical question-answering, which shows how the same language system can be adapted to multiple tasks in a data-efficient way.  The second is learning in a strategy game (Freeciv), via multiple methods, including a simple notion of episodic memory and surprise.  Finally, I discuss some issues on the path to human-level AI.

Bio: Kenneth D. Forbus is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Education at Northwestern University.  He received his degrees from MIT (Ph.D. in 1984). His research interests include qualitative reasoning, analogical reasoning and learning, spatial reasoning, sketch understanding, natural language understanding, cognitive architecture, reasoning system design, intelligent educational software, and the use of AI in interactive entertainment.  He is a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the Cognitive Science Society, and the Association for Computing Machinery.  He is the inaugural recipient of the Herbert A. Simon Prize for Advances in Cognitive Systems, a recipient of the Humboldt Research Award, and served as Chair of the Cognitive Science Society.