Augustine, AI, and the Two Models of Language

This article explores the two models of language articulated by Ludwig Wittgenstein and Augustine. It examines first, the central roles of language in humans and intelligent machines, and second, the implications of these models for understanding what it means to be human, as well as the promises and limits of AI systems. The strength of the Wittgensteinian model is particularly evident in how AI systems emulate certain types of inferential reasoning in humans by identifying the semantic roles of words in language games. By contrast, the strength of the Augustinian model is most apparent in highlighting the limits of AI systems, particularly their struggle to simulate human intelligence beyond computational reasoning, which is largely trained on big data and relies on rule‐based inference to generate solutions. The Augustinian model, in particular, discloses the complexities of human cognition that extend beyond linguistic abilities, emphasizing the role of higher‐order volition and understanding in communication.