Date: Wednesday, 12.04.23 17:00 CET
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Abstract:
The recent rise in large language models profoundly changes the landscape for theories of human language. I'll discuss how these models should cause us to rethink many popular ideas about grammar, including most prominently those argued for by Chomsky. I'll also discuss the way in which these models implement theories of language and grammar, as well as the links and gaps between these models and child language learning. Despite important differences, I'll argue that people who care about learning should take LLMs seriously. Finally, these models provide a compelling way to think about semantics and conceptual representation. I'll argue that the sense in which they possess “meanings” is likely to be analogous to how human words and concepts achieve meaning.
