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| public:t-709-aies-2026:aies-2026:classification_control_autonomy [2026/08/24 14:28] – [Some Open Questions About Meaning, Understanding, Autonomy, & Responsibility] thorisson | public:t-709-aies-2026:aies-2026:classification_control_autonomy [2026/08/24 15:17] (current) – [Concepts] thorisson |
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| | Knowledge | A set of interlinked information that can be used to plan, produce action, and interpret new information. | | | Knowledge | A set of interlinked information that can be used to plan, produce action, and interpret new information. | |
| | Thought | The goal-driven processes of a situated knowledge-based system. | | | Thought | The goal-driven processes of a situated knowledge-based system. | |
| | Controller | A system that produces a set of set of control signals in light of a set of measurements. | | | Controller / \\ Control | Controller: A system X that produces a set of set of control signals in light of a set of measurements to affect the behavior of system Y. \\ Control: The actions of a controller over time. | |
| | Situated Controller | An embodied control mechanism that is implemented and situated in a particular environment with a set of particular goals. | | | Situated Controller | An embodied control mechanism that is implemented and situated in a particular environment with a set of particular goals. | |
| | Embodiment | The interface between a controller and its task-environment. \\ The physical substrate in which a controller has been implemented, and thus constrains. | | | Embodiment | The interface between a controller and its task-environment. \\ The physical substrate in which a controller has been implemented, and thus constrains. | |
| ==== Understanding ==== | ==== Understanding ==== |
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| | In Everyday Life | A concept that people use all the time about each other's cognition. With respect to achieving a task, given that the target of the understanding is all or some aspects of the task, more of it is generally considered better than less of it. \\ To consistently solve problems regarding a phenomenon **X** requires //understanding // **X**. \\ Understanding **X** means the ability to extract and analyze the //meaning// of any phenomena **P** related to **X**. | | | In Everyday Life | A concept that people use all the time about each other's cognition. With respect to achieving a task, given that the target of the understanding is all or some aspects of the task, more of it is generally considered better than less of it. \\ To consistently solve problems regarding a phenomenon **X** requires //understanding // **X**. \\ Understanding **X** means the ability to extract and analyze the //meaning// of any phenomena **P** related to **X**. | |
| | What Does It Mean? | No well-known scientific theory exists. \\ Normally we do not hand control of anything over to anyone who doesn't understand it. All other things being equal, this is a recipe for disaster. | | | What Does It Mean? | No well-known scientific theory exists. \\ Normally we do not hand control of anything over to anyone who doesn't understand it. All other things being equal, this is a recipe for disaster. | |
| | Evaluating Understanding | Understanding any **X** can be evaluated along four dimensions: \\ 1. Being able to predict **X**, \\ 2. being able to achieve goals with respect to **X**, \\ 3. being able to explain **X**, and \\ 4. being able to "re-create" **X** ("re-create" here means e.g. creating a simulation that produces **X** and many or all its side-effects.) | | | Evaluating Understanding | Understanding any **X** can be evaluated along four dimensions: \\ 1. Being able to predict **X**, \\ 2. being able to achieve goals with respect to **X**, \\ 3. being able to explain **X**, and \\ 4. being able to "re-create" **X** ("re-create" here means e.g. creating a simulation that produces **X** and many or all its side-effects.) | |
| | \\ \\ In AI | Understanding as a concept has been neglected in AI. \\ Contemporary AI systems do not //understand//. \\ The concept seems crucial when talking about human intelligence; the concept holds explanatory power - we do not assign responsibilities for a task to someone or something with a demonstrated lack of understanding of the task. Moreover, the level of understanding can be evaluated. \\ Understanding of a particular phenomenon **P** is the potential to perform actions and answer questions with respect to **P**. Example: Which is heavier, 1kg of iron or 1kg of feathers? || | | \\ \\ In AI | Understanding as a concept has been neglected in AI. \\ Contemporary AI systems do not //understand//. \\ The concept seems crucial when talking about human intelligence; the concept holds explanatory power - we do not assign responsibilities for a task to someone or something with a demonstrated lack of understanding of the task. Moreover, the level of understanding can be evaluated. \\ Understanding of a particular phenomenon **P** is the potential to perform actions and answer questions with respect to **P**. Example: Which is heavier, 1kg of iron or 1kg of feathers? | |
| | Bottom Line | Can't talk about intelligence without talking about understanding. \\ Can't talk about understanding without talking about meaning. | | | Bottom Line | Can't talk about intelligence without talking about understanding. \\ Can't talk about understanding without talking about meaning. | |
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