Using the Tools of Cognitive Science to Understand Large Language Models at Different Levels of Analysis

Abstract: Modern artificial intelligence systems, such as LLMs, are increasingly powerful but also increasingly hard to understand. Recognizing this problem as analogous to the historical difficulties in understanding the human mind, we argue that methods developed in cognitive science can be useful for understanding LLMs. We propose a framework for applying these methods based on Marr's three levels of analysis. By revisiting established cognitive science techniques relevant to each level and illustrating their potential to yield insights into the behavior and internal organization of LLMs, we aim to provide a toolkit for making sense of these new kinds of minds.