Dr. Stefan Hackstein

How do Chatbots Think?

Hitler + Italy - Germany = ?

How do chatbots think?

How do chatbots think?

Same words, different meanings

"difficult"

"heavy"

modern chatbots understand meaning in context:

  • heavy tasks  (difficulty)
  • heavy stones  (weight)

How do chatbots think?

Same words, different meanings

How do chatbots think?

Same meaning, different words

I go ...

I direct my steps forward ...

indeterminate

poetic

How do chatbots think?

Meaning

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector

Meaning

Input

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction

Meaning

Input

Response

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

... response becomes part of the input ...

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

... response becomes part of the input ...

... direction adjusts to the response ...

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

... response becomes part of the input ...

... direction adjusts to the response ...

 

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

... response becomes part of the input ...

... direction adjusts to the response ...

... response drifts off ...

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

... response becomes part of the input ...

... direction adjusts to the response ...

... response drifts off ...

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

How do chatbots think?

  • Input is reduced to a meaning vector
  • Response should point in the same direction
  • randomly word for word in the appropriate direction

Meaning

Input

Response

Control with explicit instruction

Chat fallen over? -> new chat

How do chatbots think?

36 + 59 = ?

How do chatbots think?

36 + 59 = ?

How do chatbots think?

36 + 59 = ?

How do chatbots think?

36 + 59 = ?

How do chatbots think?

How do chatbots think?

  • Thinking = Writing
  • Strength: Entire thought process transparent
  • Weakness: No reflection, strong bias
  • Helpful: First discussion, then response 
  • Harmful: First response, then discussion
  • Good practice: Vary input, compare output
  • think for yourself

How do chatbots think?