Introduction: In an era of increasing public and scientific interest in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), the concept of communicating with non-human intelligences (NHI) has gained renewed relevance. This project introduces a speculative, game-based approach to exploring the cognitive and communicative barriers between humans and hypothetical non-human entities through purely symbolic, non-verbal exchange. Drawing from semiotics, xenolinguistics, and design theory, this game investigates how humans interpret meaning when language is removed and only visual symbols remain.
Aim/Objective: The aim of this project is to simulate a first-contact communication scenario in which a player must decode messages from a fictional NHI using a graphic symbolic language. The hypothesis is that iterative gameplay fosters the emergence of a shared symbolic lexicon and encourages creative reasoning, theory of mind, and abductive inference.
Methods: The game was developed using a custom AI model (ChatGPT) programmed to assume the role of an unknown alien intelligence. Each playthrough begins with the AI randomly generating an NHI backstory (e.g., biological/hive/resource-focused) that remains hidden unless revealed. The AI then communicates using images composed of modern, stylized symbols—deliberately omitting any written or spoken language. Players interpret these visuals, offer guesses, and receive feedback, gradually “unlocking” a symbolic lexicon over time. The methodology is qualitative, with observational data collected from test sessions involving users of varying cognitive and cultural backgrounds. Players’ interpretations are analyzed for common themes, symbol mapping strategies, and conceptual convergence.
Results: Preliminary results from pilot tests (n=15) indicate that participants are able to infer plausible meanings from purely symbolic messages with increasing accuracy across sessions. Most players adopt abductive reasoning strategies, generating multiple hypotheses before settling on the most likely interpretation. A surprising emergent property was the development of individualized yet coherent symbol-meaning associations, even in the absence of shared verbal cues. Patterns of misinterpretation often revealed unconscious anthropocentric biases or culturally embedded assumptions.
Implications / Discussion: This project demonstrates the potential of speculative play as a method for exploring alien cognition and cross-species semiotic frameworks. While fictional, the game’s structure offers a controlled sandbox for studying how humans might approach real-world communication challenges with unknown intelligences. It also has applications in design, education, and cognitive science, particularly in training flexible reasoning and promoting awareness of symbolic ambiguity.