Abstraction and Analogy in Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Explore the critical role of abstraction and analogy in both human and artificial intelligence in this thought-provoking talk by Professor Melanie Mitchell from Portland State University. Delve into the ongoing challenges in AI research, including language use, concept formation, and problem-solving, as proposed in the 1955 AI summer research project. Examine the progress made in AI over the past decade in areas such as vision, natural language processing, and robotics, while considering the limitations of current AI systems in forming humanlike concepts and abstractions. Investigate the theory proposed by cognitive scientists that analogy-making is a central mechanism for conceptual abstraction and understanding in humans, and its potential importance in developing AI systems with humanlike intelligence. Gain insights into the fundamental role of analogy-making at all levels of intelligence and its significance in the future development of AI.

Abstraction and Analogy in Natural and Artificial Intelligence