Artificial Intelegence

[Norseman]

AI may be possible in the near future...but...is it really a good idea? My guess is that we will be able to create a computer rather like a Vulcan, capable of creative and independant thought, but devoid of our spark. Our "humanity". When someone asked one of these conscious machines something like "How do we solve world hunger?" The machine would come up with the most logical answer, kill everyone. So...Im not sure that AI would be such a hot deal.

No, that would be artificial stupidity. Artificial intelligence would be: Translation: "What must be done in order to consistently create enough food to nourish everyone and the planet and to deliver this food to everyone who needs it?"

The language gap is a big part of A.I. but it won't be A.I. until it can understand what you're saying. English, like most languages, has implied meanings. Literal intepretation is not always possible, and any programmer worth his salt will take that into consideration while making A.I. Check the dictionary for the word "run". Do you see how many definitions can be applied to it? A.I. would require a machine which can take a few paragraphs of text and precisely define every word used, in its context. Not only that, but then being able to, for example, write a rebuttal, and point out logical flaws in their reasoning.

I have no doubt we'll have military A.I. before social A.I. (the distinction being between A.I. robots that go to war for us, and A.I. robots that do our dishes and our laundry and pick up our kids or schedule our appointments) because you don't need to be half as smart to cause random havoc and destrcution as you need to be to fix things. As Albert Einstein once said "Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius-and a lot of courage-to move in the opposite direction."

Hopefully, A.I. will help preserve peace before it incites war. Afterall, what do you have to lose besides money to launch a robotic army at your enemy?

 

[morningstar2651]

The human mind thinks in words.

The more words you know -- the more powerful your mind.