Can machines read our minds?
We explore the question of whether machines can infer information about our psychological traits or mental states by observing samples of our behaviour gathered from our online activities. Ongoing technical advances across a range of research communities indicate that machines are now able to access...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
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Springer Verlag
2019
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| _version_ | 1797085103932833792 |
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| author | Burr, C Cristianini, N |
| author_facet | Burr, C Cristianini, N |
| author_sort | Burr, C |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | We explore the question of whether machines can infer information about our psychological traits or mental states by observing samples of our behaviour gathered from our online activities. Ongoing technical advances across a range of research communities indicate that machines are now able to access this information, but the extent to which this is possible and the consequent implications have not been well explored. We begin by highlighting the urgency of asking this question, and then explore its conceptual underpinnings, in order to help emphasise the relevant issues. To answer the question, we review a large number of empirical studies, in which samples of behaviour are used to automatically infer a range of psychological constructs, including affect and emotions, aptitudes and skills, attitudes and orientations (e.g. values and sexual orientation), personality, and disorders and conditions (e.g. depression and addiction). We also present a general perspective that can bring these disparate studies together and allow us to think clearly about their philosophical and ethical implications, such as issues related to consent, privacy, and the use of persuasive technologies for controlling human behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:04:22Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:9e7689c4-fb47-4874-a0ea-a81d0a32415f |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:04:22Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Springer Verlag |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:9e7689c4-fb47-4874-a0ea-a81d0a32415f2022-03-27T00:50:14ZCan machines read our minds?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9e7689c4-fb47-4874-a0ea-a81d0a32415fSymplectic Elements at OxfordSpringer Verlag2019Burr, CCristianini, NWe explore the question of whether machines can infer information about our psychological traits or mental states by observing samples of our behaviour gathered from our online activities. Ongoing technical advances across a range of research communities indicate that machines are now able to access this information, but the extent to which this is possible and the consequent implications have not been well explored. We begin by highlighting the urgency of asking this question, and then explore its conceptual underpinnings, in order to help emphasise the relevant issues. To answer the question, we review a large number of empirical studies, in which samples of behaviour are used to automatically infer a range of psychological constructs, including affect and emotions, aptitudes and skills, attitudes and orientations (e.g. values and sexual orientation), personality, and disorders and conditions (e.g. depression and addiction). We also present a general perspective that can bring these disparate studies together and allow us to think clearly about their philosophical and ethical implications, such as issues related to consent, privacy, and the use of persuasive technologies for controlling human behaviour. |
| spellingShingle | Burr, C Cristianini, N Can machines read our minds? |
| title | Can machines read our minds? |
| title_full | Can machines read our minds? |
| title_fullStr | Can machines read our minds? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can machines read our minds? |
| title_short | Can machines read our minds? |
| title_sort | can machines read our minds |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT burrc canmachinesreadourminds AT cristianinin canmachinesreadourminds |