Computers and Language - LING209 Notes

Computers and Language

Announcements and Logistics

• Problem Set 1: Due Friday, September 19.
• Exam: In-class on Monday, September 22.
  • Will cover material through the current week.
  • A review sheet is available on Canvas (files > review-guides).
• Reading (RQ6): Focuses on the relationship between language and thought.
  • Includes two research articles: Boroditsky ($2001$) and a reply/critique by January ($2005$).

Introduction: The Promise and Reality of AI in Language

• Marvin Minsky (1970): Predicted that within three to eight years, machines would possess the general intelligence of an average human being.
• The Sally Riddle:
  • Question: Sally (a girl) has $3$ brothers. Each brother has $2$ sisters. How many sisters does Sally have?
  • ChatGPT's Answer (January 2024, via Twitter): Sally has $2$ sisters. (This demonstrates a surprisingly good capacity for inferential reasoning within language understanding for a current chatbot).

Agenda

1. A brief history of AI.
2. Built-in intelligence: Eliza, SHRDLU, and Watson.
3. Rise of the Empiricists: Deep learning.

A Brief History of AI & Language

• 1956: First academic conference on