Bridging Minds and Machines: Toward an Integration of AI and Cognitive Science
Abstract
Cognitive Science has profoundly shaped disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Philosophy, Psychology, Neuroscience, Linguistics, and Culture. Many breakthroughs in AI trace their roots to cognitive theories, while AI itself has become an indispensable tool for advancing cognitive research. This reciprocal relationship motivates a comprehensive review of the intersections between AI and Cognitive Science. By synthesizing key contributions from both perspectives, we observe that AI progress has largely emphasized practical task performance, whereas its cognitive foundations remain conceptually fragmented. We argue that the future of AI within Cognitive Science lies not only in improving performance but also in constructing systems that deepen our understanding of the human mind. Promising directions include aligning AI behaviors with cognitive frameworks, situating AI in embodiment and culture, developing personalized cognitive models, and rethinking AI ethics through cognitive co-evaluation.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2508.20674,
title = {Bridging Minds and Machines: Toward an Integration of AI and Cognitive Science},
author = {Rui Mao and Qian Liu and Xiao Li and Erik Cambria and Amir Hussain},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.20674},
year = {2025}
}