Embodiment: Does a laptop have a body?

This paper analyzes the different understandings of “embodiment”. It argues that the issue is not on the hardware a system is implemented in (that is, robot or conventional computer), but on the relation between the system and its working environment. Using an AGI system NARS as an example, the paper shows that the problem of disembodiment can be solved in a symbolic system implemented in a conventional computer, as far as the system makes realistic assumptions about the environment, and adapts to its experience. This paper starts by briefly summarizing the appeal for embodiment, then it analyzes the related concepts, identifies some misconceptions, and suggests a solution, in the context of AGI research.

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