Luminous Room isn't the same as Chinese Room
The luminous room argument exploits a problematic analogy between syntax and electromagnetism. The problem with this analogy is set out in the detailed text.
Either: syntax is understood as a purely formal property

In which case: the analogy fails because electromagnetism has causal properties and formal syntax does not.

Or: syntax is understood in terms of the physics of its implementing medium (e.g. the computer on which the program is run),

In which case: the analogy holds but is irrelevant to AI, because AI researchers are interested in the formal properties of programs rather than in the causal properties of silicon circuits.
 
In either case: the analogy lacks force against the Chinese Room argument.

John Searle, 1990b.
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Artificial Intelligence »Artificial Intelligence
Can computers think? [1] »Can computers think? [1]
Yes: physical symbol systems can think [3] »Yes: physical symbol systems can think [3]
The Chinese Room Argument [4] »The Chinese Room Argument [4]
The Syntax-Semantics Barrier »The Syntax-Semantics Barrier
The Luminous Room argument  »The Luminous Room argument
Luminous Room isn't the same as Chinese Room
John Searle »John Searle
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