I don’t think that’s right. As I mention in another comment, Dennett’s notion of the intentional stance is relevant here. More specifically, it provides us with a way to distinguish between cases that Zack intended to include in his concept of “algorithmic intent”, and such cases as the “catch more vitamin D” that you mention. To wit:
The positing of “algorithmic intent” is appropriate in precisely those cases where taking the intentional stance is appropriate (i.e., where—for humans—non-trivial gains in compression of description of a given agent’s behavior may be made by treating the agent’s behavior as intentional [i.e., directed toward some posited goal]), regardless of whether the agent’s conscious mind (if any!) is involved in any relevant decision loops.
Conversely, the positing of “algorithmic intent” is not appropriate in those cases where the design stance or the physical stance suffice (i.e., where no meaningful gains in compression of description of a given agent’s behavior may be made by treating the agent’s behavior as intentional [i.e., directed toward some posited goal]).
Clearly, the “catch more vitamin D” case falls into the latter category, and therefore the term “algorithmic intent” could not apply to it.
I don’t think that’s right. As I mention in another comment, Dennett’s notion of the intentional stance is relevant here. More specifically, it provides us with a way to distinguish between cases that Zack intended to include in his concept of “algorithmic intent”, and such cases as the “catch more vitamin D” that you mention. To wit:
The positing of “algorithmic intent” is appropriate in precisely those cases where taking the intentional stance is appropriate (i.e., where—for humans—non-trivial gains in compression of description of a given agent’s behavior may be made by treating the agent’s behavior as intentional [i.e., directed toward some posited goal]), regardless of whether the agent’s conscious mind (if any!) is involved in any relevant decision loops.
Conversely, the positing of “algorithmic intent” is not appropriate in those cases where the design stance or the physical stance suffice (i.e., where no meaningful gains in compression of description of a given agent’s behavior may be made by treating the agent’s behavior as intentional [i.e., directed toward some posited goal]).
Clearly, the “catch more vitamin D” case falls into the latter category, and therefore the term “algorithmic intent” could not apply to it.