Foundational Influence of Philosophy on AI

Leslie Kaelbling's journey into artificial intelligence (AI) began with a strong foundation in philosophy, particularly through her exploration of logical reasoning, belief, and knowledge. She noted that her undergraduate degree in philosophy at Stanford equipped her with tools relevant to AI, such as symbolic systems and formal semantics. This philosophical grounding allowed her to appreciate and tackle complex concepts within AI, bridging the gap between abstract thought and practical implementation. As a result, she believes that philosophical inquiries remain vital for AI researchers in addressing the ethical and technical challenges posed by intelligent systems.