Google engineer: AI has feelings: BBC News Review

Do computers have feelings?

This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

I'm Neil. And I'm Sian. A Google engineer has said that one

of the company's artificial intelligence systems might have its own feelings.

More about that coming up.

But remember there's a quiz on our website where you can test yourself

on the words and phrases from today's programme.

Now, back to the story

Machines with feelings.

They're a favourite of science fiction. Now a Google engineer claims

one of the company's artificial intelligence systems is sentient.

Meaning it has feelings. Blake Lemoine says

the Lamda system is not only capable of having natural conversations,

but also has desires which should be respected.

But Google has strongly rejected the idea.

OK, Sian, you've been looking at the headlines.

What have you got? OK, we have 'come to life',

'mind of its own', and 'taken in by'. This is NewsReview from BBC

Learning English.

Let's have a look at our first headline.

This one is from the Washington Post.

The expression we are looking at here is 'come to life'.

Now, that's quite straightforward, isn't it, Sian?

Something that wasn't alive is then alive.

Like Frankenstein's monster.

Yeah, on one level, that's correct.

So in this headline the expression 'come to life' is used literally,

but often, it's not.

No, and in that case we use it to describe things that become more real,

or a more exciting. You've got an example.

Yes. So recently,

I went to a party.

It was very boring.

Nothing was happening.

Then Neil arrived, started dancing.

The whole party came to life.

OK. Great example.

You have got another one about your home town which is a bit boring.

Most of the year it's very boring.

Nothing much happens. But in the summer.

We have festivals at the weekends, and the whole town comes to life.

OK, let's have a look at that again.

Let's have a look at our next headline.

This one is from AXIOS.

The expression is 'a mind of its own'.

This is interesting because usually we use it to talk

about things that are obviously not alive.

So machines or objects. And we use it to say that they are difficult to control.

Yeah. So you know, in the supermarket, you get the trolley.

The one that. You can't push in this direction.

It will only go in that direction.

It's got a mind of its own.

Exactly. Or the coffee machine.

Ah, the where you press for the coffee,

but only hot water comes out.

Exactly. It's got a mind of its own.

Can we use this to talk about people?

Yeah, we can use it to describe people who make their own decisions.

They don't do what is expected of them.

So they have a mind of their own.

Let's take a look at that one more time.

OK, Sian. Our next headline, please.

This one is from the Guardian:

We are looking at 'taken in by something'.

So, when you are taken in by something,

you are made to believe it's true -

even though it isn't. So you are tricked by something.

So the headline here is saying it's very normal to be tricked by machines.

I've got an example,

Sian, have you ever received one of those emails asking

for your bank details?

The ones that say you'll win hundreds of pounds, thousands of pounds.

Yeah, one of those. Well, don't get taken in by it.

Lots of people do get taken in by these tricks, and

that's normally how we use it. 'You get'

or 'you are' taken in by something. Not 'something takes you in'.

So, normally it's used in the passive form.

That's right. And you can also get taken in by a person,

someone who is often quite charming.

Like you Neil. Oh, thank you very much. But, don't worry,

I'm not trying to trick you. Let's have another look.

We've had 'come to life',

'mind of its own' and 'taken in by'.

And 'come to life' can mean 'become alive or become more exciting'.

If something has a mind of its own.

It's hard to control.

And if you're taken in by something, you're tricked by it.

If you'd like your English to come to life,

then you know where to go. Visit our website at bbclearningenglish.com.

Thanks for joining us, and goodbye. Goodbye.