A Review of Language Machines by Leif Weatherby (deontologistics.substack.com)

Leif Weatherby’s new book, *Language Machines*, explores the intersection of structuralism and modern AI language models, particularly focusing on their implications for understanding human linguistic culture. Weatherby argues that advancements in deep learning and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can validate Saussure's structuralist ideas, particularly his emphasis on the relational nature of meaning in language. By interpreting LLMs through the lens of semiotics, Weatherby suggests that linguistic meaning derives from relationships among signs, challenging traditional views that have sidelined structuralism in favor of cognitive paradigms. Significantly, Weatherby critiques the prevailing reluctance among humanities scholars to engage with AI advancements due to entrenched notions about the human-machine divide and the limitations of cognitive science perspectives. He posits that LLMs function more effectively as generative language tools rather than as agents of cognitive reasoning or truth representation. By promoting a new understanding of language as a generative surface level phenomenon, rather than a deeply cognitive process, Weatherby calls for an applied poetics that could aid in analyzing how AI-generated content shapes cultural narratives and communication practices, ultimately suggesting a transformative impact on the social and economic dynamics surrounding language use.