The prediction, in brief:

The unconscious has its own, structured language that can be deciphered and analyzed. Logic has an affective side, and affect has logic. Perhaps the models of human mind that grow from emergent AI [Artificial Intelligence] might come to support a more integrated view. The interest of psychoanalysts in these models suggests some hope that they might, but there is reason to fear that they will not … Information processing left affect dissociated; emergent AI may try to integrate it but leave it diminished.

Predictor: Turkle, Sherry

Prediction, in context:

In her 1995 book “Life on the Screen,” Sherry Turkle – an accomplished social psychologist, sociologist and anthropologist from MIT whose studies centered around people and computers for decades – writes:”The unconscious has its own, structured language that can be deciphered and analyzed. Logic has an affective side, and affect has logic. Perhaps the models of human mind that grow from emergent AI [Artificial Intelligence] might come to support a more integrated view. The interest of psychoanalysts in these models suggests some hope that they might, but there is reason to fear that they will not. In fact, the way emergent AI attempts to include feelings in its models provides some basis for pessimism. Take, for example, Marvin Minsky’s way of explaining the Oedipus complex in ‘The Society of Mind.’ … Minsky transforms the psycholanalytic consideration of primitive feelings into a discussion of a kind of thinking. Information processing left affect dissociated; emergent AI may try to integrate it but leave it diminished.”

Biography:

Sherry Turkle was the author of “Life on the Screen: Computers and the Human Spirit.” and a professor of the psychology of science at MIT. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Community/Culture

Subtopic: Human-Machine Interaction

Name of publication: Life on the Screen (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 5: The Quality of Emergence

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 145, 146

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney