skip to content

Cambridge Language Sciences

Interdisciplinary Research Centre
 

It’s nearly 70 years since the Turing test was proposed as an operational test for intelligence in computers, and it is still a subject that provokes much discussion. One important aspect of the Turing Test is linguistic ability, and one important aspect of that ability is what Chomsky called “the creative aspect of language use”, the ability of language to serve as “an instrument for free expression of thought, unbounded in scope, uncontrolled by stimulus conditions though appropriate to situations”.

With every new wave of progress in artificial intelligence, such as that promised by the current “deep learning” paradigm, it’s natural to ask the question whether these advances get us any nearer to a machine that could pass the Turing test, or that could use language creatively. In this talk, I’ll explore these issues, in particular looking at some parallels between the implications for human learning that we could derive from current deep learning methods, and the intellectual climate of behaviourism and empiricism in language learning and use that Chomsky was reacting against.

Programme

The programme for the day is as follows:

  • 16:15 Wheeler lecture.
  • 17:30 Drinks reception.

Registration

There is no charge to attend, but it would be helpful if you could register your interest using the registration form.

Date: 
Wednesday, 30 May, 2018 - 16:15 to 17:15
Contact name: 
Dr D.J. Greaves
Contact email: 
Event location: 
William Gates Building, Lecture Theatre 1

What we do

Cambridge Language Sciences is an Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. Our virtual network connects researchers from five schools across the university as well as other world-leading research institutions. Our aim is to strengthen research collaborations and knowledge transfer across disciplines in order to address large-scale multi-disciplinary research challenges relating to language research.

JOIN OUR NETWORK

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

CONTACT US