2024/02/16 by Nikolos Gurney, Gurney, Nikolos, David V. Pynadath +3 · 1 citation
Computer Science · #Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI) #Computability, Logic, AI Algorithms #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2402.13272
openalex publication_date 2024/02/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Existing approaches to Theory of Mind (ToM) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) overemphasize prompted, or cue-based, ToM, which may limit our collective ability to develop Artificial Social Intelligence (ASI). Drawing from research in computer science, cognitive science, and related disciplines, we contrast prompted ToM with what we call spontaneous ToM -- reasoning about others' mental states that is grounded in unintentional, possibly uncontrollable cognitive functions. We argue for a principled approach to studying and developing AI ToM and suggest that a robust, or general, ASI will respond to prompts and spontaneously engage in social reasoning.