Steve Flusberg

The metaphors of artificial intelligence A few months after ChatGPT was released, the neural network pioneer Terrence Sejnowski wrote about coming to grips with the shock of what large language models (LLMs) could do: “Something is beginning...

This is a companion to our recent episode with @sflusberg.bsky.social. Here, we take AI as an case study in how metaphors reflect and shape understanding.

The discussion centers around @melaniemitchell.bsky.social's excellent essay in @science.org: www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...

Many Minds: Seven metaphors for AI If you wanted a petri dish for understanding metaphors—how they emerge and evolve and jostle with each other—it would be hard to do better than the world of AI. We talk about AI systems variously as c...

I enjoyed talking with @kensycoop.bsky.social on the Many Minds podcast about the metaphors we use to conceptualize AI.

manyminds.libsyn.com/seven-metaph...

Analogy and metaphor galore!

I was interviewed by the @nightsciencepod.bsky.social podcast about metaphor and analogy in science:

open.spotify.com/episode/1hqU...

Pairs well with @sflusberg.bsky.social's interview on metaphor on the @manymindspod.bsky.social podcast
disi.org/the-aura-of-...

The late philosopher Daniel Dennett had a notable penchant for metaphor—but he rarely used just one. Instead, he often engaged in what @sflusberg.bsky.social calls "metaphorical triangulation."

Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode!

Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...

Surely one of the most timelessly alluring questions in all of metaphor research. Was excited to hear @sflusberg.bsky.social's take on this one!

(which I won't spoil)

We can all agree that metaphors are nice. But are they also sometimes necessary? Could there be ideas we simply can't approach literally, thoughts we can't think without metaphors?

Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social!

Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...

Such a fun and interesting, really thought-provoking episode! 😀

Thanks, Zach!

Nice interview and discussion about the cool work of @vassar.bsky.social professor @sflusberg.bsky.social

Delightful geek-out with @sflusberg.bsky.social! In which we discuss...

- why we love metaphors
- "beige flags" & "aura-farming"
- good vs bad metaphors
- theory-constitutive metaphors in science
- Dennett's technique of "metaphorical triangulation"
- the "brain as computer" metaphor (??)
- etc.!!

I was absolutely thrilled to chat with Kensy about metaphor for one of my favorite podcasts. Check it out!

I was delighted to be featured in this charming podcast hosted by the brilliant poet Jack Underwood

Dedre Gentner awarded 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal Professor recognized for ‘elucidating the unique power of human thought’

Congratulations to Dedre Gentner!
news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025...

Nora S. Newcombe and Robert Glushko stand together smiling on stage at CogSci 2025. Nora wears the Rumelhart Prize medal around her neck

Huge congratulations to the brilliant Nora Newcombe, recipient of the 2025 David E. Rumelhart Prize! 🏅#CogSci2025

Heading to #CogSci2025 🥳

We’re hiring a tenure track assistant professor in our amazing Vassar cognitive science department! If you have any questions, let me know. I’ll be at Cog Sci in San Francisco all week if you’d like to chat in person

YouTube video by Science Animated How do vaccines work? A castle metaphor

It seems like as good a day as any to repost links to the five metaphor-based animations we created - based on this paper journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... - about the importance of #vaccines. @sflusberg.bsky.social

First one: A castle metaphor for how vaccines work
youtu.be/DOD854panQg?...

My lovely dept at Vassar is seeking a one-year VAP who can teach Clinical courses. More info at the link below. Come join us!
employment.vassar.edu/postings/4331

Unraveling the Power and Influence of Language The study of framing effects is a multidisciplinary line of research that investigates when, how, and why language influences those who receive a message and how it impacts their response. This scienc...

In the latest PSPI, @sflusberg.bsky.social and his team provide a comprehensive review of framing-effects research, including describing a survey of common framing effects and a taxonomy of linguistic framing techniques.

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

For my first post, I'm excited to share a new paper just out in Psych Science in the Public Interest. We've written a comprehensive review of the linguistic framing literature, including a new taxonomy of framing effects, an emphasis on mechanisms, and much more! journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....