Intelligence is Corporeal—Rethinking Design Through the Body

This conference talk explores how intelligence is fundamentally embodied, with Professor Kristina Höök examining the corporeal nature of our value systems and decision-making processes. Delve into the disconnect between current AI systems, which exist primarily in the realm of language, and the physical, emotional, and somatic dimensions of human experience. Learn how aesthetics and ethics are grounded in our bodily existence and consider the implications as AI technologies increasingly interact with our physical bodies. Discover insights from soma design approaches that acknowledge the role of the body in meaning-making and intelligence. Professor Höök, an ACM Distinguished Scientist and recipient of the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award, draws on her extensive research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology to propose frameworks for designing AI systems that support meaningful human experiences. Recorded at the 2025 GAIA Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, this 41-minute presentation challenges conventional thinking about intelligence and offers new perspectives on creating technology that respects and enhances our embodied existence.