In his article titled "Speaking of Words", Michael Ferber discusses the concept of language in relation to artificial intelligence (AI). He questions whether AI truly possesses language or if it is merely a simulation of human language. He argues that AI is essentially a complex system of stimulus-response arcs that only appear to know a language but lack actual knowledge. Ferber also explores the idea of language as a mental representation and highlights the innate linguistic capabilities of humans. He emphasizes that language acquisition is unique to humans and cannot be replicated in other animals or AI.

Ferber delves into the broader topic of consciousness and its connection to AI, pondering whether AI machines can achieve consciousness and if so, what form it would take. He suggests that the material composition of living beings, along with their embodied nature, may be essential conditions for consciousness. Ferber suggests that the AI research community should address the moral implications of potentially creating AI machines with human-like consciousness and advocate for compassionate and ethical treatment. The article concludes with the author's contact information and background.