InterpretAI

The science of understanding AI.

[InterpretAI @Interpret_AI]

Why is interpretability of AI models important?

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

Parallels between human and whale phonology.

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

This beautiful dialect of Slovenian has one of the most intriguing tone systems.

One pattern, low-mid vowels resisting retracted stress, is strikingly reminiscent of something we've found in whale phonology.

Tone, stress, quantity, and quality interact, which is very rare.

After 10+ years of fieldwork, experiments, and analysis, the paper is finally out.

[metahaven @mthvn]

Our forthcoming book is available for preorder with @VersoBooks. It is about art and its cognitive futures https://t.co/NSdRwxMIC8

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

This fabulous book, The Hard Question of Art by @mthvn is available for preorder! Coming out in August.

[metahaven @mthvn]

“The Hard Question of Art: Cognitive Futures” is available for preorder from @VersoBooks:
https://t.co/NSdRwxMIC8

[Ben Kolligs @TheRobotHerder]

Actually amazing https://t.co/M7atkd4kbl

[Ben Kolligs @TheRobotHerder]

The most impressive result related to AI I have learned of so far is that Sperm whales have a language as complicated as Mandarin.

[Nina Beguš @ninabegus]

Is writing thinking?

Our new volume holds 16 essays by professional creative writers - @sashastiles, @RealIainSThomas, @jamesjyu, @jasminbf, Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, Annelyse Gelman, Qiufan Chen, Sheila Heti, and others - reflecting on writing in the time of AI.

All books are currently 50% off with the code SPRING 26, making it cost $10.

The preorder delivery date is now in late September @UofMPress

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

In the age of papal encyclicals on AI, it's worth reading this book. Here are some reviews:

"Artificial Humanities establishes the method; the next chapters remain to be written by readers equipped with Beguš’s tools for uncovering mythological infrastructures embedded in systems too often taken as purely technical."

"Beguš inverts the usual causality: Fiction does not merely reflect AI imaginaries; it actively scripts them."

"The book stands out as a timely and foundational work, providing intellectual grounding for these questions. It positions “Artificial Humanities” as a potentially central discipline that will require ongoing negotiation and conceptualization by scholars in the literature, culture, and media, as well as by AI researchers and designers, in dialog with the rapidly expanding field of critical AI studies. Beguš compellingly shows why understanding AI today and shaping its future require precisely the kinds of knowledge the humanities have to offer."

[DeBarra Shaw @D2Chattoway]

Inspiration… ✨🐳✨😊✨

[Eran Toch @erant]

@begusgasper I wonder what’s a tree for a language model

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

My commencement address at Bowles Hall, UC Berkeley.

There are many things meaningful to us humans that whales never see. There are no trees and no ground in their world. But the opposite is also true. There are things in their lives that we cannot even imagine. As you go out in the world, search for those unimaginable things. Try to discover what is meaningful to your friends, your family, and the people around you that you can’t yet imagine and learn from that. Ask what a tree is for a whale. Ask what a tree is for your loved one. Ask what a tree is for your friend.

[Gašper Beguš @begusgasper]

The last page of The Hindu today.

[Nina Beguš @ninabegus]

A strong book review in Configurations!

"Artificial Humanities establishes the method; the next chapters remain to be written by readers equipped with Beguš's tools for uncovering mythological infrastructures embedded in systems too often taken as purely technical."

"Artificial Humanities offers something rare: a mythology-first approach that treats cultural narratives as infrastructural determinants of technical design."

"Beguš models a form of humanities scholarship indispensable for technical domains."

[Nina Beguš @ninabegus]

Honored that the manuscript of Artificial Humanities is presented ar Pierre Huyghe’s exhibition at Fondation Beleyer.

Pierre read the book before it was published and his reaction ended up as a blurb on it’s back cover @UofMPress