Noam Chomsky on AI, Neural Networks, and the Future of Linguistics (349)

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Noam Chomsky is one of the most influential and highly cited scholars of our time. He is a pioneer in the fields of linguistics and cognitive science. He has deep thoughts about communicating with aliens, meditation, Elon Musk, and free speech.

Chomsky is a prolific author and known political activist. We avoided politics, as is the custom for my interviews. Our conversation also covers the Turing Test, neural nets, and artificial intelligence, including why he expects Elon Musk’s Neuralink project to fail.
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Key Takeaways:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:09:10 Does Noam Chomsky believe in extraterrestrial life & could we communicate with E.T.?
00:24:20 Busting (or confirming) linguistic myths with the master.
00:39:00 “There is no scientific method. It’s just being intelligent.”
00:58:00 Artificial intelligence applications in cognitive science.
01:09:15 Chomsky University would encourage discovery.
01:21:44 Thoughts on the negative reaction to the Harper’s Magazine article.
01:29:40 What object or knowledge would Chomsky put in or on his monolith?
01:32:09 What did Chomsky think was impossible until he did it?

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Noam Chomsky has been called "the father of modern linguistics." He has been a professor at MIT since 1955 (now emeritus) and continues to teach at the University of Arizona at the age of 91. Chomsky has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates, along with being a member of multiple professional societies. He has written over 100 books covering topics including linguistics, politics, and philosophy.

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Watch my most popular videos:

#NoamChomsky #AI #Aliens

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Please watch: "Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Plays the Race Card!"
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[DrBrianKeating]

Is the brain a computer? Will Neuralink work?

[jadparanoiac]

It's so incredible how he is still so sharp

[antonpictures]

00:00 🧠 Chomsky suggests that neural net systems may not be the right approach for understanding thinking and cognition, advocating for exploring other possibilities, possibly at the molecular level.
00:57 🗣 Linguistics is a defining characteristic of human beings, a universal property, and the core of creative capacities, making it central to all human lives.
03:22 📚 Chomsky explains that there is no analog of Gödel's incompleteness theorem in linguistics because linguistics is an organic system based on properties and not a specific formal system.
05:15 🌍 Chomsky discusses the potential for communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence, suggesting that understanding their mode of communication is key.
08:28 🤖 Chomsky explains the core principles of human language, highlighting the distinction between the internal language system and external sensorimotor systems.
12:46 🌌 Chomsky speculates about the rarity of intelligent civilizations and their potential survival, suggesting that even intelligent beings might not be technologically advanced.
19:29 🧠 Chomsky discusses language pathology and how deficiencies in language can reveal insights into the functioning of the brain.
26:43 👶 Chomsky debunks the myth that children start learning language in utero, clarifying that infants are genetically predisposed to distinguish language sounds from birth.
30:29 📚 Noam Chomsky discusses the uniqueness of the Korean writing system, which reflects phonological properties, not facial expressions.
31:27 🧒 Language acquisition in children involves understanding complex sentences even during the two-word stage.
33:18 🗣 Linguistics aims to establish regularized rules despite the evolution of vocabulary in languages.
38:01 🤔 Understanding the meaning of words like "irregardless" requires internal knowledge, and meanings are consistent across languages.
44:12 💭 The brain operates with principles of computational efficiency, minimizing resource usage.
45:07 🔌 The brain processes vast amounts of visual information efficiently, focusing on essential details.
49:25 💡 The brain's computational efficiency is analogous to the principle of least action in physics.
51:46 🧠 Most of our thinking occurs in the internal system, inaccessible to conscious introspection.
55:06 🤔 Chomsky reiterates that the inner workings of the mind are inaccessible to consciousness, using linguistic examples.
58:00 🤖 Chomsky considers the potential applications of artificial intelligence in shedding light on consciousness and human cognition.
58:27 🤖 Artificial intelligence has two main fields: one focuses on understanding the nature of intelligence through cognitive science and modeling with computers, and the other involves engineering and creating practical applications like Google Translator, often using brute force and massive computation.

01:00:21 📚 Predictive text generated by AI, while sometimes a nuisance, can also help individuals become more considerate in their interactions, offering suggestions and improving communication.

01:03:11 🤖 The Turing Test, initially introduced by Alan Turing, is seen as a thought experiment rather than a scientific question. It focuses on whether a machine can mimic human behavior, but the question of whether machinescan truly think is considered meaningless.

01:08:59 🧠 The architecture of neural nets used in AI may not be suitable for replicating human thinking processes. Research into areas like microtubules and the internal structure of neurons is exploring alternative possibilities for achieving artificial general intelligence.

01:13:17 🎓 The future of education lies in encouraging curiosity and allowing students to explore and discover knowledge on their terms. The traditional lecture-style education may not be the most effective way to stimulate learning.

01:20:56 🧠 The inner monologue is an essential part of cognitive science and understanding human thought processes. While we don't constantly vocalize our thoughts, it's a topic of interest in scientific research.

01:24:42 🌍 The reaction to an open letter on justice and debate, co-signed by individuals like Noam Chomsky and J.K. Rowling, reveals the challenges of intellectual culture, where focus on signatories rather than content can lead to irrationality and limit open discussion.

01:25:11 🌐 Chomsky discusses the evolution of ideological diversity in academia, highlighting the shift towards greater concern for various issues, including women's rights and human rights.
01:26:36 🗣 Chomsky addresses the stereotypes associated with accents and how they relate to authority structures rather than language itself.
01:28:58 🌍 Chomsky emphasizes the importance of overcoming prejudices while maintaining a balance to avoid excessive censorship and tiptoeing on eggshells in language and society.
01:31:21 🌍 Chomsky discusses the existential threat humanity faces due to issues like nuclear war and environmental catastrophe and the need to avert these crises.
01:32:49 🧠 Chomsky reflects on the early days of his linguistic career, highlighting the importance of pursuing what seems interesting and defying conventional wisdom to explore the seemingly impossible.
01:33:45 🌐 Chomsky talks about the early paradoxes in linguistics, where it appeared that languages were fundamentally different, but later research aimed to find commonalities and answers.

[danielspain]

I love it when Noam shakes his head in disagreement - it normally means he’s about to throw a priceless gem of wisdom into the discussion…

[ThatMemoryIsAlive]

This is one of the best Chomsky interviews I've ever heard. Amazing questions, no silly interruptions or digressions. Really hats off.

[gurmitkhun-khun]

Chomsky 90 some years old still knocks the shit out of all the crap floating around the internet, he names the names the dates the articles. unbelievable sharp as frigging razor

[tb-cgvd]

Congratulations! That's the clearest I've heard Chomsky in years and the bugger is still a billion times smarter than me at 94. What deal did he make with Satan and how can I arrange one????

Excellent interview as always - you have a brilliant channel Dr.Bri, clear, gracious and consistently interesting, love it.

[PhysicsNative]

One of the best interviews I’ve seen you do, Brian, thanks. Chomsky is sensible on so many topics. A few suggestions for future guests: Brent Tully on his recent BAO claim, and Richard Lindzen on atmospheric physics. Lindzen has very profound ideas on dynamical systems, and is quite sensible.

[bryandraughn]

Brian, your positivity is of a particular nature that I can recognize, but I can't describe.
You're just a great guy!
It was so good to hear the discussion about education. It seems like everyone has known about the limitations of the "teach to test" method for ages, yet we are still dealing with this method being firmly in place. Are we trying to make sure that children don't learn? The problem, and the solution is clear but it stays the same.
How is that even possible?
This was a great interview with a great mind.

[mcasanovaiii]

dr. bk, you keep outdoing yourself, with every new communion.

[predragvasic]

For those who don't know and care:
In Serbian language every sound has an equivalent letter.
It means that even without understanding the language if you learn the Serbian alphabet (cyrilic or latin), you could read serbian text properly and not knowing what you just read

[jedser]

He is so impressive, so lucid still. He looks and sounds like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates put together.

[paulpell]

Chomsky is simply amazing. This is the fourth time I've listened to this particular interview, and I've learned something new each time. It is simply the best interview you've ever done Brian, thank you. BTW, one of the reasons I'm watching a lot of Chomsky interview re-runs is because he hasn't done any new ones for a couple of months. I hope nothing bad has happened to him and we soon start getting the benefit of his brilliant mind again.

[soucianceeqdamrashti]

Amazing, the breadth of knowledge that Chomsky possesses. Hope he can tour more podcasts for many more years.

[czarquetzal]

Noam Chomsky is the embodiment of a philosopher as public. Intellectual.

[Don_Kikkon]

"... clear, gracious and consistently interesting, love it." Well said tb-cg6vd.

Love it when others are able to express my thoughts so well that cut n paste is the optimum response rather that a perilous short cut.

Especially right now, when it seems so many of us are hearing totally different truths in the same data.

But when grace, courage, humility, diplomacy and humor are wielded with such enviable aplomb, it seems everybody wins.

Thank you Brian, for once again reminding us all how it should be done.

[Samsgarden]

I love how Chomsky’s not tempted to claim scientific victory over every phenomenon

[lau_dhondt]

Much love for Noam Chomsky. Good interview.

[patrickl]

Brian always asks the questions I want asked. His channel is always at the top of my queue.

[sarahpurol]

Exactly. One of the first things I teach my students is that language is what makes us human.