Seminar on Embodiment, Interaction, and Large Language Models: Revisiting foundations of cognitive development

Physical embodiment and social interaction are traditionally viewed as cornerstones of Cognitive Developmental Robotics (CDR), guiding our understanding of human cognitive and affective development through computer simulations and robotic experiments. Central to this is language acquisition, traditionally believed to be unattainable without these physical and social dimensions. However, the emergence of advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) challenges this notion, demonstrating language understanding and generation capabilities without physical embodiment or traditional interaction.  This talk delves into the implications of LLMs for our understanding of cognitive development. We will explore how these findings not only redefine theoretical underpinnings in CDR but also open new avenues in robotics and AI, offering a fresh perspective on the parallels and divergences between human cognition and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Minoru Asada was a professor in the Department of Adaptive Machine Systems at the Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University from April 1997 to March 2019. Since then, he has been a specially-appointed professor, Symbiotic Intelligent System Research Center, Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University. From April 2021, he became a vice president of International Professional University of Technology in Osaka. 

Professor Asada has received many awards, such as the Best Paper award at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS92) and a Commendation by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japanese Government, as a  Person of Distinguished Services to Enlightening People on Science and Technology. He is one of the founders of the RoboCup, and the former president of the International RoboCup Federation (2002-2008). He was a president for the Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ, 2019-2021). IEEE Life Fellow since 2021. 

He was the Research Director of the ASADA Synergistic Intelligence Project at Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (ERATO, 2005-2011), and was a principal investigator of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (2012-2016) titled Constructive Developmental Science based on Understanding the Process from Neuro-Dynamics to Social Interaction. He was a principal investigator of the JST RISTEX R&D Project titled Legal Beings: Electric personhoods of artificial intelligence and robots in NAJIMI society, based on a reconsideration of the concept of autonomy.