Artificial intelligence, what does it all mean to you? To most of us it is the concept of a machine that can perform the same level of function as the human brain. In 1956 John McCarthy coined the term and defined it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines”. However, how do you define ‘intelligence’? By some people’s definition of intelligence we may already have A.I, indeed with have a multitude of machines that perform intelligent functions you would have a strong case.So to clarify early on in this post, AI is in reference to recreating or surpassing the cognitive ability of the human brain. This means creating a machine that has the ability to learn, solve problems and even create art.
Predictions
There are a number of different predictions made for the advancement of the human race, the next step in evolution, Professor Steven Hawking believes is that of artificial intelligence:
“Intelligent machines based on mechanical and electronic components, rather than macromolecules, could eventually replace DNA based life, just as DNA may have replaced an earlier form of life.”
This is an interesting take on the next steps in evolutions. In terms of timescale Ray Kurzweil calculated that by 2029 computers will have the same processing speed as a human brain, also concluding that A.I will have the ability to improve itself at a rate that exceeds anything that has ever been conceived before.
The ability to merge humans and machines to complement each other and form ‘Cyborgs’ has also been forwarded, as has the idea AI can help people with dementia and Alzheimers disease.
But theories aside, and with no expertise of my own, I would like to hazard a prediction based on my own logical thinking. In popular culture the Artificial Intelligent being has usually come in the form of something physical. But looking at logistics and the rate of computer technology, to me it would appear artificial intelligence more akin to the movie The Matrix will be possible. This would mean that all efforts are focussed on getting the cognitive effects correct, and this idea is backed up by its own thought leaders.
One way to evaluate ‘computer intelligence’ is applying the following to tasks computers perform. Optimal means that it is not possible to perform better, once example of this is the game drafts, however, the game chess is classified as super-human, which means they perform better than most humans. Other categories are strong super human, which mean performs better than most humans and sub-human, which mean they perform worse than most humans.
However, or whenever AI happens, it’s an exciting and inspirational topic, when do you think AI will be born? And how do you feel about it?
About Author: Matt G. Hwyte is a writer with a love of space, time-travel, artificial intelligence and force fields, his clients provide quality netbooks and tablets to computer users.
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