Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science, which aims to create it. Major AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents," where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions, which maximize its chances of success. John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1956, defines it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines. (1)

Most applications for artificial intelligence have involved things like search engines: tasks of mind numbing complexity that require sound judgment. But lots of robot designers are attempting to create machines that mimic animals.

An example of this is the Sony Aibo robot dog. It can programmed to respond to a specific name. The camera within the dog enables him to see and can be wirelessly connected to a computer, allowing you to see the world through his perspective.
The software can also be changed so that he becomes a puppy, complete with crying and demanding behaviour.



In exploring the concept of the computer becoming an extension of ourselves we can put forward the following statements by J Handke, who is the author of ‘The Structure of the Lexicon’ states that:

“Irrespective of the enormous differences between the human mind, and the presently available computers. Machines are not capable of parallel processing this means that while the human brain is able to establish up to 10,000 connections between each of its several billion processing units. While presently available networks at best realise a few hundred fully connecting units.” (2)

Handke states that there are enormous differences between human and machines and the way in which we communicate and interact cannot be equated in the same
way. The computer isn’t a substitute for the human mind and it is not capable of human relationships.

He continues that unlike the human mind the computer is incapable of the kind of intellectual depth and breadth of the brain and is no substitute for human interaction, emotion or for human identity; as perceived and understood in its current complexity. It is not possible to replicate the extraordinary ingenuity and capacity of the mind into a cold electrical mechanism. And when one considers the other personal elements of the human mind, e.g. argument, expression, logic, morals, ethics and human identity. The concept of a computer having human identity becomes obsolete. (3)

I think that these are very interesting ideas that have been put forward. I can see both sides to the argument, on the one side how can a machine possibly process the elements of the human mind and all its complex aspects. But on the other hand with the development of technology there have been AI that have been created that can learn, and take onboard new information.

Sources used within this post

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence
(2), (3) Handke, J, (1995), The Structure of the Lexicon: Human Versus Machine, Published by Walter de Gruyter.