language games in recent robotics

 Every machine contains of an internal mechanism which can be explained from a scientific perspective. A steam engine is driven by combustion, a computer works with electricity and a robot also have an internal driving force. In the science fiction world, the core mechanism of a robot is sometimes an AI chip which enables the robot to think. A rough estimation is, that robots in the reality also have a chip or a graphics processing unit which is very expensive and makes the robot move and think. Unfurtunately, this hardware oriented explanation is wrong. Modern robotics has no AI chip.

The next possible explanation is, that a robot is driven by a software architecture, for example an algorithm or a robot control software. Such a computer program would be the core element and enables the robot to take decision. Unfurtunately, the hint with a software architecture is also wrong. Modern robotics doesn't require a dedicated firmware nor an operating system.

If hardware and software both is not the explanation for the artificial intelligence inside a robot there are not much alternative explanations available. At the same time, recent robotics has demonstrated remarkable skills like biped walking anb dexterous object grasping so there must be a mechanism available which explains the internal working. The mechanism is a bit hidden. Its not located inside the robot torso but its outside of the robot. Or to be more specific, the driving force behind modern robotics are language games.

A language game is an activity played with a set of rules. Typical games might be chess or 4 in a row. A language game is a certain category of a game which is working interactively and by using words. Language games are the driving force behind recent robotics. A certain robot for example a biped robot, implements a language game. The language game defines also the limitation of a robot. For example if the game is about navigating in a warehouse scenario, the robot can do only this single task.

The problem with games and especially with language games is, that they can't located in the reality very well. A game doesn't need a cpu and no certain software program, but a game is an abstract idea described in a document. For example the game of chess can be implemented in different physical chess boards which might have 10cm width, 14 cm width or it can be implemented in a video game. The same situation is available for language games. A certain speaker to hearer dialogue game can be implemented on different computer hardware with different algorithms. THe only fixed element is the game itself.

Even if games can't be located physically inside a robot, they are part of the reality. Abstract ideas are usually described in books, and books are located in a library. In a library there are many books available about board games, card games, word puzzles and language games for robots. These books are the single explanation why modern robotics is working.