Syntax can generate natural meanings
Reliable causal connections between the syntactic system and the world are sufficient to to generate natural meanings.
For example, because a thermometer is reliably causally connected to the world, when it reads 60 it means that the temperature is 60.

Similarly if an AI system is reliably causally connected to the world, its (syntactic) belief that egg foo young is in front of it will mean (semantically) that egg foo young  medically young is in front of it.

Note: for a similar argument, see "Causal connection with the world is essential to meaning", Box 8.
Immediately related elementsHow this works
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Artificial Intelligence Â»Artificial Intelligence
Can computers think? [1] Â»Can computers think? [1]
Yes: physical symbol systems can think [3] Â»Yes: physical symbol systems can think [3]
The Chinese Room Argument [4] Â»The Chinese Room Argument [4]
The Syntax-Semantics Barrier Â»The Syntax-Semantics Barrier
Syntax can generate natural meanings
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