Dissociating Language and Thought in Large Language Models: A Cognitive Science Perspective

Watch a thought-provoking lecture from Georgia Institute of Technology's Anya Ivanova exploring the complex relationship between language and cognition in large language models (LLMs). Delve into the critical distinction between formal competence (understanding linguistic rules) and functional competence (practical language application) through the lens of neuroscience and cognitive science. Learn how behavioral and neuroscience approaches from human intelligence studies can be applied to evaluate AI capabilities, while discovering how AI advancements contribute to our understanding of human language and cognition. Examine the common misconception of equating coherent text generation with genuine thinking capabilities in LLMs, and gain insights into the parallel mechanisms of language processing in both human brains and artificial systems.