Dr. Douglas Guilbeault, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior and Spence Faculty Scholar for the 2025–2026 academic year at Stanford Graduate School of Business, shares key insights from his research, “Blood Is Red, Math Is Blue: Does AI See Colors Like Me and You?”

Dr. Douglas Guilbeault’s study, “Blood Is Red, Math Is Blue: Does AI See Colors Like Me and You?”, investigates whether AI systems trained only on text can replicate the richly embodied color associations that shape human thought. Comparing people with normal color vision, colorblind individuals, painters, and large language models, the research shows that humans regardless of color vision differences share similar, embodied patterns of linking colors to concepts, while AI often diverges, especially for novel or nonsensical terms. The study reveals that AI develops its own internally consistent, synesthesia-like color mappings that differ from human experience, raising important questions about the limits of purely statistical learning and highlighting the central role of metaphor, perception, and qualitative experience in human cognition.

This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com.

Disclaimer:

A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music.

B. Dr. Douglas Guilbeault generously shared profound insights from his research, “Blood Is Red, Math Is Blue: Does AI See Colors Like Me and You?” during his appearance on the Business Talk podcast channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited.