Emergent Communication

Emergent communication is a growing area of business and industrial practice that integrates human communication with emerging technology. Centered in social science research and technology studies, emergent communication serves as a platform for users to interact with and design communication strategies for varied kinds of emerging technology, including machine learning and artificial intelligence platforms that use embodied agents (or bots, chatbots, and digital assistants) to facilitate communication with human users. Emergent Communication aims to enable and/or enhance existing human experience and performance.

Definitions

Emergent communication is broadly defined as the communication that occurs between humans and complex technologies that enable or enhance user experiences. Emergent communication exists when: (1) users communicate with emerging technology, such as programming a 3D printer to regenerate human biomaterials; (2) human intelligence interacts with information access platforms facilitated by machine learning systems, including localized smart devices, networked domains, and open network systems, by using voice, text, cutaneous, brain waves, system ICONS, holographs, and gestural inputs; and (3) in experimental domains in which engineers program machine learning-based computers to communicate with each other, resulting in bots creating their own language, as was reported by Facebook’s Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) lab, or when Artificial Intelligent platforms use auto machine learning (AutoML) to create and communicate with other Artificial Intelligent agents, as was reported by Google Brain.

Emergent communication is a key component of a larger transhumanistic vision that advocates using artificial intelligence and ambient intelligent systems (Ami) to enhance human life.

References

Galeon, Dom & Kristin Houser. “Google's AI Built Its Own AI That Outperforms Any Made by Humans.” Science Alert. December 2, 2017.

Griffiths, Sara. “Bionic spinal cord' helps stroke victims walk again: Brain implant lets patients control an exoskeleton using their Mind.” Daily Mail. 8 February 2016.

LaFrance, Adrienne. "An Artificial Intelligence Developed Its Own Non-Human Language." The Atlantic. June 15, 2017.

McKay, Tom. "No, Facebook Did Not Panic and Shut Down an AI Program That Was Getting Dangerously Smart." Gizmodo. July 31, 2017.

Wehner, Mike. “Facebook engineers panic, pull plug on AI after bots develop their own language.”  BGR. July 1, 2017.