Can Computers Understand Language?

Title: Can Computers Understand Language?

Research Question: Wolfram Schmied, in his paper "Demolishing Searle's Chinese Room," challenges John Searle's argument that computers cannot understand language. Schmied presents two versions of Searle's Chinese Room argument and demonstrates that both versions fail for different reasons.

Methodology: Schmied reconstructs Searle's argument, pointing out that it relies on the assumption that the person operating the room (Searle himself) does not understand Chinese. However, Schmied argues that this is an oversimplification. He then presents a second version of the argument where Searle internalizes the Chinese program, making it impossible for him to claim that he does not understand Chinese.

Results: Schmied shows that the first version of the argument fails because Searle, as a human, is not equivalent to a computer running a Chinese program. The second version fails because Searle does not provide a reason for denying understanding to systems capable of speaking the language.

Implications: Schmied's critique suggests that the debate over whether computers can understand language is not as clear-cut as Searle's Chinese Room argument might suggest. It highlights the importance of considering the complexity of human cognition and the potential capabilities of artificial intelligence.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0403009v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0403009v1