Prof. LI Ping, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies

From the perspective of large language models (LLM) examining human brain’s learning and representation of language. 2023 Brain Science and Technology Summit Forum. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China, 28-29 May 2023.

Abstract
How can we leverage advances in digital technology and Large Language Models (e.g., ChatGPT) to enhance our understanding of language learning and representation? In an era of widespread digital application and innovation, our understanding of the interaction between humans and technology has lagged behind. In this talk, I outline an approach that combines emerging technologies and computational data-driven approaches with current neurocomputational theories, with a particular reference to language learning and its representation. This approach highlights interactive mechanisms (bottom-up and top-down) and integrative processes (theory and application) that enable us to understand the differences between child and adult language learning, as well as individual differences in the learner. Computational and neurocognitive studies in this domain also have significant implications for applications of AI and machine learning methods for personalized education, thereby informing pedagogical designs and instructional innovations.