Can Machines Play Language Games with Humans?

Bingnan Zheng, Tianqun Pan

Abstract.

Since the introduction of the Turing test and the emergence of the concept of artificial intelligence, the performance of machines in "dialogue" with humans has been an important criterion for judging machine intelligence. Machine intelligence is embodied in the use of language. Wittgenstein advocated, in his theory of language games, that the meaning of language lies in its use, and that language cannot be completely separated from human life activities. Language has several fixed rules, but there are no specific rules in many aspects. Furthermore, language games and life forms are interdependent. Therefore, under a lower standard, machines can play limited and rule-based language games with humans, thus achieving specialized intelligence, but they cannot fully participate in human life practices; therefore, they have not achieved universal intelligence. However, to seek a broader development space for artificial intelligence, one must leave the theoretical framework of anthropocentrism. By following this approach, a future world of human–machine coexistence can be expected.

Contents.

1. Introduction

2. The imitation game in the Turing test is a language game

3. Machine language games from a language game theory perspective

4. A future life form of human–machine coexistence?

5. Conclusion