Unembodied Artificial Intelligence

Notes:

Unembodied artificial intelligence (AI) refers to AI systems that do not have a physical body or form. These systems are typically software-based and operate on a computer or in the cloud. They are designed to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as natural language processing, image recognition, decision making, and problem solving. Examples of unembodied AI include virtual assistants, language translation software, and self-driving car algorithms.

Chatbots and voice assistants are examples of unembodied AI. They are software-based systems that are designed to understand and respond to natural language input from users. They can perform a variety of tasks, such as answering questions, providing information, and completing simple commands. They can be integrated into a wide range of platforms, including websites, mobile apps, and smart home devices. The chatbots and voice assistants are designed to mimic human conversation and interaction, but they do not have a physical body.

Phenomenology is a philosophical method and movement that emphasizes the study of conscious experience or perception, rather than objective reality or physical objects. Edmund Husserl, who is considered the founder of phenomenology, believed that by examining the structures of consciousness, one could gain a deeper understanding of the nature of reality and our experience of it. In contrast, the Cartesian method of analysis, which is named after philosopher René Descartes, focuses on breaking down the world into its individual components and studying them in isolation. It emphasizes the study of objective reality and the laws that govern it, rather than subjective experience.

John Haugeland introduced the term “GOFAI” (Good Old-Fashioned Artificial Intelligence) in his 1985 book “Artificial Intelligence: The Very Idea” to refer to the symbolic approach to AI, also known as rule-based systems or classical AI. This approach is based on the idea that intelligence can be replicated by creating a set of rules or symbols that can be used to represent knowledge and reasoning.

Together, embodiment, situatedness, and morphology are central concepts in the study of embodied AI, which focuses on the relationship between the physical form and cognitive capabilities of AI systems.

Voice as a form of embodiment refers to the use of voice as a means of providing an AI system with a sense of embodiment or presence. Voice-enabled systems, such as virtual assistants or chatbots, can use natural language to communicate with users and provide a sense of interactivity, even if they don’t have a physical form. Voice can also be used to provide a sense of personality or character to the system, making it more engaging and relatable to users.

Natural language as a form of sensory input refers to the use of natural language, such as spoken or written language, as a way for AI systems to gather information and understand the intentions of users. Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of AI that focuses on the ability of systems to understand and generate human language. The use of natural language as a form of sensory input allows AI systems to interact with users in a more natural and intuitive way.

Disembodied refers to a system or entity that does not have a physical body or form. In the context of AI, a disembodied AI system would be one that does not have a physical presence or embodiment, such as a virtual assistant or chatbot.
Embodied multimodal fusion refers to the integration of multiple modalities, such as vision, audio, and haptic feedback, into an embodied AI system. An embodied system is one that has a physical presence or embodiment, such as a robot. The integration of multiple modalities allows the robot to gather and process information from different sources, resulting in a more robust and versatile system.
Embodiment refers to the idea that an AI system’s intelligence is closely tied to its physical form or embodiment.
Interface agents refers to AI systems that act as intermediaries between users and other systems or devices. These agents can be embodied or disembodied, and their main function is to make it easier for users to interact with the underlying system. Examples include virtual assistants, chatbots, or voice-controlled home automation systems. Interface agents can also be used to facilitate interactions between different systems or devices, such as coordinating the actions of multiple robots working in a shared environment.
Mixed reality agents refers to AI systems that can seamlessly integrate virtual and real-world environments and objects. These agents can use various forms of mixed reality, such as augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) to provide users with an immersive experience. Mixed reality agents can be used in a variety of applications, such as gaming, education, and training, and they can be embodied or disembodied.
Morphology refers to the physical form or structure of an AI system.
Situatedness refers to the idea that an AI system’s intelligence is closely tied to its context or environment.

Resources:

james-project.eu .. joint action for multimodal embodied social systems, 2011-2014

Wikipedia:

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