hi everyone my name is deshita and I’m a researcher at the human-computer
researcher at the human-computer
researcher at the human-computer interaction lab at MIT
interaction lab at MIT
interaction lab at MIT my background is an architecture and
my background is an architecture and
my background is an architecture and computer science and my passion is to
computer science and my passion is to
computer science and my passion is to build machines that can help designers
build machines that can help designers
build machines that can help designers with creative problem-solving the
with creative problem-solving the
with creative problem-solving the motivation for my research comes from my
motivation for my research comes from my
motivation for my research comes from my personal experience as an architect I
personal experience as an architect I
personal experience as an architect I was never the lone creative genius
was never the lone creative genius
was never the lone creative genius being a designer for the last 10 years
being a designer for the last 10 years
being a designer for the last 10 years has made me realize that creative
has made me realize that creative
has made me realize that creative thinking is a social exercise every time
thinking is a social exercise every time
thinking is a social exercise every time I struggled with a problem that required
I struggled with a problem that required
I struggled with a problem that required a creative solution that out-of-the-box
a creative solution that out-of-the-box
a creative solution that out-of-the-box thinking I seeked perspectives of those
thinking I seeked perspectives of those
thinking I seeked perspectives of those around me and somehow they our way of
around me and somehow they our way of
around me and somehow they our way of looking at the problem differently than
looking at the problem differently than
looking at the problem differently than me opened up so many avenues of
me opened up so many avenues of
me opened up so many avenues of solutions for me the environments we
solutions for me the environments we
solutions for me the environments we thrive in the context and cultures we
thrive in the context and cultures we
thrive in the context and cultures we engage with but most importantly the
engage with but most importantly the
engage with but most importantly the people we interact with directly
people we interact with directly
people we interact with directly influence our creative abilities so when
influence our creative abilities so when
influence our creative abilities so when I came to MIT I started researching on
I came to MIT I started researching on
I came to MIT I started researching on building machines that could be creative
building machines that could be creative
building machines that could be creative partners I wanted to understand why and
partners I wanted to understand why and
partners I wanted to understand why and how did my interactions with others
how did my interactions with others
how did my interactions with others enabled me to develop creative solutions
enabled me to develop creative solutions
enabled me to develop creative solutions as I dug deeper I realized that creative
as I dug deeper I realized that creative
as I dug deeper I realized that creative thinking was not as mysterious as I
thinking was not as mysterious as I
thinking was not as mysterious as I believed it to be in fact each one of us
believed it to be in fact each one of us
believed it to be in fact each one of us can be creative all the time
can be creative all the time
can be creative all the time let me show an example take a moment and
let me show an example take a moment and
let me show an example take a moment and look at this image what did you just see
look at this image what did you just see
look at this image what did you just see more importantly what did you think if
more importantly what did you think if
more importantly what did you think if you were a Beatles fan you probably
you were a Beatles fan you probably
you were a Beatles fan you probably thought of their Blackbird song if you
thought of their Blackbird song if you
thought of their Blackbird song if you were a mother of a toddler you probably
were a mother of a toddler you probably
were a mother of a toddler you probably thought of the nursery rhyme for in 20
thought of the nursery rhyme for in 20
thought of the nursery rhyme for in 20 blackbirds baked in a pie or if you’re a
blackbirds baked in a pie or if you’re a
blackbirds baked in a pie or if you’re a Game of Thrones fan like me you’re
Game of Thrones fan like me you’re
Game of Thrones fan like me you’re probably thought of the three-eyed Raven
probably thought of the three-eyed Raven
probably thought of the three-eyed Raven why we all looked at the same thing we
why we all looked at the same thing we
why we all looked at the same thing we had our own unique ways of looking at
had our own unique ways of looking at
had our own unique ways of looking at the blackboard and if you a poet Wallace
the blackboard and if you a poet Wallace
the blackboard and if you a poet Wallace Stevens you had not one but 30 in
Stevens you had not one but 30 in
Stevens you had not one but 30 in different ways of looking at the
different ways of looking at the
different ways of looking at the blackboard
blackboard
blackboard Wallace’s poem highlights the most
Wallace’s poem highlights the most
Wallace’s poem highlights the most extraordinary ability of human minds
extraordinary ability of human minds
extraordinary ability of human minds creative thinking by merely able to see
creative thinking by merely able to see
creative thinking by merely able to see different meanings in the same object
different meanings in the same object
different meanings in the same object and this form of creative thinking is
and this form of creative thinking is
and this form of creative thinking is not just evident in poetry and
not just evident in poetry and
not just evident in poetry and storytelling but also in visual art for
storytelling but also in visual art for
storytelling but also in visual art for example Wallace’s poem inspired artist
example Wallace’s poem inspired artist
example Wallace’s poem inspired artist Michael Spafford to create his
Michael Spafford to create his
Michael Spafford to create his interpretations of Wallace’s poem as
interpretations of Wallace’s poem as
interpretations of Wallace’s poem as paintings interestingly ten years later
paintings interestingly ten years later
paintings interestingly ten years later he revisited his own paintings to form
he revisited his own paintings to form
he revisited his own paintings to form new expressions our ability to see
new expressions our ability to see
new expressions our ability to see different meanings in the objects around
different meanings in the objects around
different meanings in the objects around us and then express these visions across
us and then express these visions across
us and then express these visions across different mediums is what makes us a
different mediums is what makes us a
different mediums is what makes us a creative society creative thinking is
creative society creative thinking is
creative society creative thinking is nothing but seeing different meanings
nothing but seeing different meanings
nothing but seeing different meanings that adds value to our knowledge and
that adds value to our knowledge and
that adds value to our knowledge and sometimes it’s revisiting and re looking
sometimes it’s revisiting and re looking
sometimes it’s revisiting and re looking at our interpretations and forming new
at our interpretations and forming new
at our interpretations and forming new meanings it is as if the world is one
meanings it is as if the world is one
meanings it is as if the world is one giant painting and we are constantly
giant painting and we are constantly
giant painting and we are constantly playing around with it to discover new
playing around with it to discover new
playing around with it to discover new meanings discover hidden connections and
meanings discover hidden connections and
meanings discover hidden connections and this simple idea is powerful because
this simple idea is powerful because
this simple idea is powerful because what it means is that each one of us can
what it means is that each one of us can
what it means is that each one of us can be creative as long as we can develop
be creative as long as we can develop
be creative as long as we can develop our own unique ways of looking at the
our own unique ways of looking at the
our own unique ways of looking at the world and this way of looking uniquely
world and this way of looking uniquely
world and this way of looking uniquely on the world is a term that is
on the world is a term that is
on the world is a term that is scientifically called
scientifically called
scientifically called as cognitive diversity as a visual
as cognitive diversity as a visual
as cognitive diversity as a visual analogy consider for example you and me
analogy consider for example you and me
analogy consider for example you and me were looking at the same object a prism
were looking at the same object a prism
were looking at the same object a prism based on how we look at it where we are
based on how we look at it where we are
based on how we look at it where we are looking from we would form different
looking from we would form different
looking from we would form different rules to parse this object we would form
rules to parse this object we would form
rules to parse this object we would form different interpretations of this object
different interpretations of this object
different interpretations of this object and we will embed different meanings in
and we will embed different meanings in
and we will embed different meanings in this object this is what makes this
this object this is what makes this
this object this is what makes this cognitively diverse from each other
cognitively diverse from each other
cognitively diverse from each other computationally speaking cognitive
computationally speaking cognitive
computationally speaking cognitive diversity is merely being able to use
diversity is merely being able to use
diversity is merely being able to use different perspectives and breaking
different perspectives and breaking
different perspectives and breaking objects in different
objects in different
objects in different opponents using different rules and then
opponents using different rules and then
opponents using different rules and then using different heuristics to form new
using different heuristics to form new
using different heuristics to form new interpretations so if you’re all
interpretations so if you’re all
interpretations so if you’re all cognitively diverse from each other how
cognitively diverse from each other how
cognitively diverse from each other how does it affect our creative ability this
does it affect our creative ability this
does it affect our creative ability this brings me to the second most
brings me to the second most
brings me to the second most extraordinary ability of human
extraordinary ability of human
extraordinary ability of human intelligence social interaction when we
intelligence social interaction when we
intelligence social interaction when we socially interact with each other it’s
socially interact with each other it’s
socially interact with each other it’s as if we exchange our rules of parsing
as if we exchange our rules of parsing
as if we exchange our rules of parsing the world with each other and in the
the world with each other and in the
the world with each other and in the process we transform each other’s way of
process we transform each other’s way of
process we transform each other’s way of looking at things together we engage not
looking at things together we engage not
looking at things together we engage not just in a dialogue but in a creative
just in a dialogue but in a creative
just in a dialogue but in a creative thinking process in the end it doesn’t
thinking process in the end it doesn’t
thinking process in the end it doesn’t even matter whether we understood each
even matter whether we understood each
even matter whether we understood each other completely or not as long as we
other completely or not as long as we
other completely or not as long as we succeeded in transforming our own ways
succeeded in transforming our own ways
succeeded in transforming our own ways of looking at the world so the case that
of looking at the world so the case that
of looking at the world so the case that I’m making is that with just these two
I’m making is that with just these two
I’m making is that with just these two abilities one the ability to be
abilities one the ability to be
abilities one the ability to be cognitively diverse and second the
cognitively diverse and second the
cognitively diverse and second the ability to socially interact is what
ability to socially interact is what
ability to socially interact is what makes us creative Society however we are
makes us creative Society however we are
makes us creative Society however we are spending less time embracing our diverse
spending less time embracing our diverse
spending less time embracing our diverse thoughts and ideas we are spending less
thoughts and ideas we are spending less
thoughts and ideas we are spending less time problem-solving with humans and
time problem-solving with humans and
time problem-solving with humans and more times with machines and this
more times with machines and this
more times with machines and this machines are programmed to give us the
machines are programmed to give us the
machines are programmed to give us the exact same answer every single time we
exact same answer every single time we
exact same answer every single time we query it so this got me thinking can
query it so this got me thinking can
query it so this got me thinking can machines ever learn to be cognitively
machines ever learn to be cognitively
machines ever learn to be cognitively diverse can machines ever learn to give
diverse can machines ever learn to give
diverse can machines ever learn to give us different perspectives every single
us different perspectives every single
us different perspectives every single time we ask it the challenge and making
time we ask it the challenge and making
time we ask it the challenge and making such algorithms is that creative
such algorithms is that creative
such algorithms is that creative thinking is neither strictly logical nor
thinking is neither strictly logical nor
thinking is neither strictly logical nor is it entirely random our thinking is so
is it entirely random our thinking is so
is it entirely random our thinking is so ephemeral one moment we might look at
ephemeral one moment we might look at
ephemeral one moment we might look at something one way another moment
something one way another moment
something one way another moment completely differently it is as if we
completely differently it is as if we
completely differently it is as if we dynamically decomposed our thoughts fuse
dynamically decomposed our thoughts fuse
dynamically decomposed our thoughts fuse them embed new meanings and recreate new
them embed new meanings and recreate new
them embed new meanings and recreate new thoughts it is as if the units of
thoughts it is as if the units of
thoughts it is as if the units of thoughts are evanescent in nature and
thoughts are evanescent in nature and
thoughts are evanescent in nature and they serve the purpose of explaining the
they serve the purpose of explaining the
they serve the purpose of explaining the meaning only momentarily and then
meaning only momentarily and then
meaning only momentarily and then disappear and reappear to make new
disappear and reappear to make new
disappear and reappear to make new meanings this is because we do apply
meanings this is because we do apply
meanings this is because we do apply rules but we are constantly changing
rules but we are constantly changing
rules but we are constantly changing rules to form new interpretations and
rules to form new interpretations and
rules to form new interpretations and then form new rules again
then form new rules again
then form new rules again and making machines that can exhibit
and making machines that can exhibit
and making machines that can exhibit such kind of behavior is computationally
such kind of behavior is computationally
such kind of behavior is computationally challenging given the current frameworks
challenging given the current frameworks
challenging given the current frameworks with machine learning it’s required
with machine learning it’s required
with machine learning it’s required using a different paradigm a
using a different paradigm a
using a different paradigm a computational framework called shape
computational framework called shape
computational framework called shape grammar conceptualized by George Stinney
grammar conceptualized by George Stinney
grammar conceptualized by George Stinney a professor at MIT provided a way for me
a professor at MIT provided a way for me
a professor at MIT provided a way for me to address this challenge using shape
to address this challenge using shape
to address this challenge using shape grammars we can now build machines that
grammars we can now build machines that
grammars we can now build machines that can compute multiple perspectives
can compute multiple perspectives
can compute multiple perspectives consider an example of these three
consider an example of these three
consider an example of these three triangles if I ask people what do they
triangles if I ask people what do they
triangles if I ask people what do they see most will say three triangles some
see most will say three triangles some
see most will say three triangles some however would see two triangles some
however would see two triangles some
however would see two triangles some would see four triangles somebody like
would see four triangles somebody like
would see four triangles somebody like me would see nine lines and the
me would see nine lines and the
me would see nine lines and the possibilities are endless our human mind
possibilities are endless our human mind
possibilities are endless our human mind is capable of incorporating all these
is capable of incorporating all these
is capable of incorporating all these different answers machines on the other
different answers machines on the other
different answers machines on the other hand are programmed algorithmic ly to
hand are programmed algorithmic ly to
hand are programmed algorithmic ly to give the exact same answer three
give the exact same answer three
give the exact same answer three triangles but what if our frameworks
triangles but what if our frameworks
triangles but what if our frameworks were not so static and rigid shape
were not so static and rigid shape
were not so static and rigid shape grammars provides us with a framework to
grammars provides us with a framework to
grammars provides us with a framework to compute all these multiple possibilities
compute all these multiple possibilities
compute all these multiple possibilities this is because the machine computes
this is because the machine computes
this is because the machine computes with new set of rules and new components
with new set of rules and new components
with new set of rules and new components every single time the asker it can
every single time the asker it can
every single time the asker it can either have full partial or no memory of
either have full partial or no memory of
either have full partial or no memory of the previous state
the previous state
the previous state so in short using using shape grammars
so in short using using shape grammars
so in short using using shape grammars we can encompass all these indefinite
we can encompass all these indefinite
we can encompass all these indefinite possibilities and perspectives using a
possibilities and perspectives using a
possibilities and perspectives using a same simple mechanism but here is the
same simple mechanism but here is the
same simple mechanism but here is the incredible part this framework can be
incredible part this framework can be
incredible part this framework can be applied not just to compute with shapes
applied not just to compute with shapes
applied not just to compute with shapes and visual forms in my research I use
and visual forms in my research I use
and visual forms in my research I use the principles of shape grammar and
the principles of shape grammar and
the principles of shape grammar and applied it to creative thinking now
applied it to creative thinking now
applied it to creative thinking now imagine that instead of computing which
imagine that instead of computing which
imagine that instead of computing which shapes the machine is now computing with
shapes the machine is now computing with
shapes the machine is now computing with abstract thoughts and instead of making
abstract thoughts and instead of making
abstract thoughts and instead of making rules of placement of shapes the machine
rules of placement of shapes the machine
rules of placement of shapes the machine is now making rules of placement of
is now making rules of placement of
is now making rules of placement of abstract thoughts this meaningful
abstract thoughts this meaningful
abstract thoughts this meaningful arrangement of thoughts or spatial
arrangement of thoughts or spatial
arrangement of thoughts or spatial relations is nothing but ideas so if
relations is nothing but ideas so if
relations is nothing but ideas so if thoughts were shapes not
thoughts were shapes not
thoughts were shapes not literally and ideas were spatial
literally and ideas were spatial
literally and ideas were spatial relations then creative thinking can be
relations then creative thinking can be
relations then creative thinking can be computed using shape grammar using this
computed using shape grammar using this
computed using shape grammar using this framework we can now build parser
framework we can now build parser
framework we can now build parser machines that can break complex ideas
machines that can break complex ideas
machines that can break complex ideas into simpler thoughts we can build
into simpler thoughts we can build
into simpler thoughts we can build interpreter machines that can combine
interpreter machines that can combine
interpreter machines that can combine simpler thoughts and make complex ideas
simpler thoughts and make complex ideas
simpler thoughts and make complex ideas or we can make inference machines that
or we can make inference machines that
or we can make inference machines that can compute with multiple ideas and
can compute with multiple ideas and
can compute with multiple ideas and start connecting these thoughts and help
start connecting these thoughts and help
start connecting these thoughts and help us discover meanings which our human
us discover meanings which our human
us discover meanings which our human mind was incapable of discovering in
mind was incapable of discovering in
mind was incapable of discovering in short I’m saying we can build machines
short I’m saying we can build machines
short I’m saying we can build machines that can think might not think is
that can think might not think is
that can think might not think is logically written still think and if
logically written still think and if
logically written still think and if these machines can learn to share their
these machines can learn to share their
these machines can learn to share their rules of parsing with us they can become
rules of parsing with us they can become
rules of parsing with us they can become true creative partners instead of being
true creative partners instead of being
true creative partners instead of being passive interfaces they can now actively
passive interfaces they can now actively
passive interfaces they can now actively start interacting with us to augment our
start interacting with us to augment our
start interacting with us to augment our creative abilities my vision for the
creative abilities my vision for the
creative abilities my vision for the future of creativity is not where
future of creativity is not where
future of creativity is not where machines are more creative than us but
machines are more creative than us but
machines are more creative than us but one where machines inspire each one of
one where machines inspire each one of
one where machines inspire each one of us to be more diverse in our thinking
us to be more diverse in our thinking
us to be more diverse in our thinking more creative in our thinking with
more creative in our thinking with
more creative in our thinking with access to wast knowledge an incredible
access to wast knowledge an incredible
access to wast knowledge an incredible computing power machines can now provide
computing power machines can now provide
computing power machines can now provide us with different diverse perspectives
us with different diverse perspectives
us with different diverse perspectives as we bring in our diverse experiences
as we bring in our diverse experiences
as we bring in our diverse experiences to make the sense of the world so let us
to make the sense of the world so let us
to make the sense of the world so let us build machines that can help us step
build machines that can help us step
build machines that can help us step outside our own fixed ways of thinking
outside our own fixed ways of thinking
outside our own fixed ways of thinking so that we can understand the world not
so that we can understand the world not
so that we can understand the world not in one way or 13 ways but in definite
in one way or 13 ways but in definite
in one way or 13 ways but in definite ways because like Minsky said if we
ways because like Minsky said if we
ways because like Minsky said if we understood something one way then he
understood something one way then he
understood something one way then he would not have understood it at all
would not have understood it at all
would not have understood it at all thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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