Among the many narratives of the transformative power of Generative AI is one that sees in the world a latent nation of programmers who need to wield nothing but intentions and natural language to render their ideas in software. In this paper, this outlook is problematised in two ways. First, it is observed that generative AI is not a neutral vehicle of intention. Multiple recent studies paint a picture of the “mechanised convergence” phenomenon, namely, that generative AI has a homogenising effect on intention. Second, it is observed that the formation of intention itself is immensely challenging. Constraints, materiality, and resistance can offer paths to design metaphors for intentional tools. Finally, existentialist approaches to intention are discussed and possible implications for programming are proposed in the form of a speculative, illustrative set of intentional programming practices.
Fri 6 SepDisplayed time zone: London change
14:00 - 15:30 | |||
14:00 25mTalk | Educational Tools for Probabilistic Machine Learning Curriculum in Schools PPIG papers Josephine Rey University of Cambridge, Alan Blackwell University of Cambridge, Xinyue Li Cambridge University Press and Assessment, Gemma Penson University of Cambridge, Hong Ge University of Cambridge, Helen Arnold Freelance | ||
14:25 20mTalk | Proposed Experiment on Automatic Bias Detection in Source Code Review PPIG papers | ||
14:45 20mTalk | Ethical Integration in Computer Science Education: Leveraging Open Educational Resources and Generative Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Learning PPIG papers | ||
15:05 25mTalk | Intention is All You Need PPIG papers Advait Sarkar Microsoft Research and University of Cambridge Pre-print | ||
