Dr Inês Hipólito
Cognitive Science of Artificial Intelligence
Research Papers
Recent characterisations of self-organising systems depend upon the presence of a ‘Markov blanket’: a statistical boundary that mediates the interactions between the inside and outside of a system.
We leverage this idea to provide an analysis of partitions in neuronal systems. This is applicable to brain architectures at multiple scales, enabling partitions into single neurons, brain regions, and brain-wide networks. This treatment is based upon the canonical micro-circuitry used in empirical studies of effective connectivity, so as to speak directly to practical applications.
The notion of effective connectivity depends upon the dynamic...
We leverage this idea to provide an analysis of partitions in neuronal systems. This is applicable to brain architectures at multiple scales, enabling partitions into single neurons, brain regions, and brain-wide networks. This treatment is based upon the canonical micro-circuitry used in empirical studies of effective connectivity, so as to speak directly to practical applications.
The notion of effective connectivity depends upon the dynamic...
One of the criteria to a strong principle in natural sciences is simplicity. This paper claims that the Free Energy Principle (FEP), by virtue of unifying particles with mind, is the simplest. Motivated by Hilbert's 24th problem of simplicity, the argument is made that the FEP takes a seemingly mathematical complex domain and reduces it to something simple. More specifically, it is attempted to show that every ‘thing’, from particles to mind, can be partitioned into systemic states by virtue of self-organising symmetry break, i.e. self-entropy in terms of the balance between risk and ambiguity to achieve epistemic gain. By virtue of its explanatory reach, the FEP becomes the simplest principle under quantum, statistical and classical mechanics conditions.
Online audiovisual interaction (AVOI), though minimal, constitutes a form of embodiment. This implies that empathy can be fostered even in non-co-located individuals through online platforms. To address both the limitations and potential of online embodied interaction the article develops a framework for comprehending and cultivating empathy in the virtual realm. It argues that empathy is a skill that is fundamentally tied to our physical and sensory experiences, and therefore, dismisses the Theory of Mind (ToM) model for reducing empathy to mere mental constructs with inherent limitations. Instead, it draws upon Embodied Cognitive Science (ECS) to show that the feeling of disembodiment experienced in AVOI can be conceptualised as a “shrinking of” the social space. With the aim of both widening...
Sensational claims portray AI as an entity beyond human control. We argue that while AI may exhibit characteristics that appear" beyond control," this does not necessarily arise from its status as an independent entity. The panic “out-of-control” AI narrative is getting in the way of reflecting on how we can meaningfully control AI.
Radically enactive accounts of perceiving directly and diametrically oppose their representationalist rivals. This is true even of the most radical predictive processing theories of perception which embrace some enactivist assumptions yet retain some commitment to representationalism. Which framework should we prefer?
1 July 2024
Published in International Association for Computing and Philosophy Conference 2024
Read paper ›
Published in International Association for Computing and Philosophy Conference 2024
Read paper ›
Large language models (LLMs) are fundamentally different from search engines, functioning more as 'vibe-machines' than information retrieval systems. However, conveying appropriate expectations and usage modes for these novel interfaces remains challenging. This paper critically examines Willison's 'calculator for words' analogy and Bucci's counter-arguments...
Recent research has demonstrated the potential of psychedelic therapy for mental health care. However, the psychological experience underlying its therapeutic effects remains poorly understood. This paper proposes a framework that suggests psychedelics act as destabilizers, both psychologically and neurophysiologically. Drawing on the ‘entropic brain’...
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"Step aside, mind-body problem; more pressing now is the mind-technology problem. This is not just the question of whether artificial intelligence systems can think, remember, learn, or feel. It is also about how our minds, our human nature, are changing as a result of interacting with these technologies."
"Might artificial systems become conscious or capable of genuine agency? Do they merely supplement human cognition, or have such systems already supplanted some organic cognitive processes? These questions are crucial for understanding the opportunities and perils of advances in computational technology."
"How can we build embodied intelligent systems capable of adapting to dynamically changing environments with coherent purposes and sensibly prioritised goals? How can we ensure that the complexity of intelligent systems mirrors the complexity of their environments?"
"Embodied intelligence must play a crucial role in the design of intelligent machines. This new wave of E-Cognition considers that cognitive activity does not reduce to the intellectual capacities of agents being able to represent their environments."
"The advent of intelligent systems challenges our understanding of what it means to be human. Our interactions with these technologies do not merely extend our cognitive capacities; they transform the very fabric of our mental lives, prompting us to reconsider our notions of self and agency."
"Embodied intelligence offers a pathway to creating AI systems that are not only adaptive but also capable of meaningful interactions with their environments. By grounding cognition in physical experience, we open the door to more nuanced and resilient forms of artificial intelligence".
"As we continue to develop advanced AI technologies, we must grapple with the ethical dimensions of these innovations. It is imperative to consider how these systems affect human autonomy, privacy, and the very nature of our social interactions."
Cognitive Science Philosophy of Mind Dynamical Systems
I am a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Philosophy of AI at Macquarie University . Previously, I served as a proud lecturer at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). I also co-founded and served as the president of the International Society for the Philosophy of the Sciences of the Mind.
As a bridge-builder, I facilitate meaningful dialogues and collaborations across academia, corporate, and NGO sectors. As the founder of MissionAI, I am committed to advising organisations in cultivating mission-driven and ethical AI cultures, showcasing my practical impact in the field. Moreover, in my role as an AI ethics advisor and a Senior Research Engineer at Verses, a cognitive computing company, I contribute to shaping ethical and responsible AI implementation.
I am a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Philosophy of AI at Macquarie University . Previously, I served as a proud lecturer at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin). I also co-founded and served as the president of the International Society for the Philosophy of the Sciences of the Mind.
As a bridge-builder, I facilitate meaningful dialogues and collaborations across academia, corporate, and NGO sectors. As the founder of MissionAI, I am committed to advising organisations in cultivating mission-driven and ethical AI cultures, showcasing my practical impact in the field. Moreover, in my role as an AI ethics advisor and a Senior Research Engineer at Verses, a cognitive computing company, I contribute to shaping ethical and responsible AI implementation.
Special issues
Humans and Large Language Models
The Mind-Technology Problem
Bayesian Brain
Bio AI: From Embodied Robotics to Enactive Cognition
Schizophrenia and Common Sense
Your Brain on AI
"Hold spaces of joy, love and hope."
Dr Inês Hipólito
Michael Kirby Building, 17 Wally's Walk, Office 250
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Email me ›
Michael Kirby Building, 17 Wally's Walk, Office 250
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Email me ›
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Design & conceptualisation of AI
Design & conceptualisation of AI
