Is Persuasion Uniquely Human?

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The question of whether persuasion is uniquely human distracts us from the completely bonkers, amazing success of project debater ocasher. Maybe it's not crushing humans at debate every time, but it's also not losing horribly. A computer may a strong showing against a world champion debater in a live event. That is bananas. Should we even care who woni? I think the point here was really to demonstrate that that anai system can meaning fully participate in such an event.

This episode, featuring Andy Luttrell of the Opinion Science Podcast, is all about a machine, built by IBM, that can debate human beings on any issue, which leads to the question: is persuasion, with language, using arguments, and the ability to alter another person’s attitudes, beliefs, values, opinions, and behavior a uniquely human phenomenon, or could you be persuaded to change your mind by an artificial intelligence designed to do just that? If so, what does that say about opinions, our arguments, and in the end, our minds?

Patreon: http://patreon.com/youarenotsosmart