Heuristic Reasoning in AI: Instrumental Use and Mimetic Absorption

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Hauptverfasser: Mukherjee, Anirban, Chang, Hannah Hanwen
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Mukherjee, Anirban
Chang, Hannah Hanwen
author_facet Mukherjee, Anirban
Chang, Hannah Hanwen
contents Deviating from conventional perspectives that frame artificial intelligence (AI) systems solely as logic emulators, we propose a novel program of heuristic reasoning. We distinguish between the 'instrumental' use of heuristics to match resources with objectives, and 'mimetic absorption,' whereby heuristics manifest randomly and universally. Through a series of innovative experiments, including variations of the classic Linda problem and a novel application of the Beauty Contest game, we uncover trade-offs between maximizing accuracy and reducing effort that shape the conditions under which AIs transition between exhaustive logical processing and the use of cognitive shortcuts (heuristics). We provide evidence that AIs manifest an adaptive balancing of precision and efficiency, consistent with principles of resource-rational human cognition as explicated in classical theories of bounded rationality and dual-process theory. Our findings reveal a nuanced picture of AI cognition, where trade-offs between resources and objectives lead to the emulation of biological systems, especially human cognition, despite AIs being designed without a sense of self and lacking introspective capabilities.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_09404
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Heuristic Reasoning in AI: Instrumental Use and Mimetic Absorption
Mukherjee, Anirban
Chang, Hannah Hanwen
Artificial Intelligence
Deviating from conventional perspectives that frame artificial intelligence (AI) systems solely as logic emulators, we propose a novel program of heuristic reasoning. We distinguish between the 'instrumental' use of heuristics to match resources with objectives, and 'mimetic absorption,' whereby heuristics manifest randomly and universally. Through a series of innovative experiments, including variations of the classic Linda problem and a novel application of the Beauty Contest game, we uncover trade-offs between maximizing accuracy and reducing effort that shape the conditions under which AIs transition between exhaustive logical processing and the use of cognitive shortcuts (heuristics). We provide evidence that AIs manifest an adaptive balancing of precision and efficiency, consistent with principles of resource-rational human cognition as explicated in classical theories of bounded rationality and dual-process theory. Our findings reveal a nuanced picture of AI cognition, where trade-offs between resources and objectives lead to the emulation of biological systems, especially human cognition, despite AIs being designed without a sense of self and lacking introspective capabilities.
title Heuristic Reasoning in AI: Instrumental Use and Mimetic Absorption
topic Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.09404