Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!munnari.oz.au!metro!grivel!gara!pnettlet
From: pnettlet@gara.une.oz.au (Philip Nettleton)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: What AI is Exactly - Another Update.
Keywords: intelligence
Message-ID: <3734@gara.une.oz.au>
Date: 17 Sep 90 22:27:47 GMT
Organization: University of New England, Armidale, Australia
Lines: 97

Some new people have recently entered this debate so I thought it was
time to repost the definition of an "Intelligent System" that we have
developed so far. Pinning this debate back to its origins, we would
be interested in hearing from anyone with a CONSTRUCTIVE critism of
any part of the definition or any additions they feel are necessary.
Remember, the underlying assumption is that to be human is not a
necessary condition for being intelligent, this point has been flogged
to death in recent postings.

Let us produce a slightly more refined "general requirements" for the
behaviour of an "intelligent system".

----------------------------------------------------------------------
			DEFINITION:
	GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM.

a)	The system MUST be able to learn. This implies that the
	system MUST have a memory for learning to be maintained.
	Also learning comes in a number of varieties:

	i)	It MUST be able to learn from its own experiences.
		These can be broken down into further criteria:

		1)	Learning through trial and error.
		2)	Learning through observation.
		3)	Learning through active deduction (see
			reasoning).

	ii)	It SHOULD be able to learn by instruction, but this
		is not necessary. At the very least the system MUST
		have preprogrammed instincts. This is a boot strap
		for the developing intelligence.  Without a starting
		point, the system cannot progress.

b)	The system MUST be autonomous. That is to say, it MUST be
	able to do things by itself (however may choose to accept
	aid).  This can be disected as:

	i)	The system MUST be able to effect its environment
		based on its own independent conclusions.

	ii)	The system MUST be its own master and therefore
		doesn't require operator intervention.

	iii)	The system MUST be motivated. It must have needs and
		requirements that can to be satisfied by its own
		actions.

c)	The system MUST be able to reason. That is to say, it must
	use some form of deductive reasoning, based on known facts
	and capable of producing insights (deductions) which later
	become known facts.

d)	The system MUST be able to develop self awareness. This is
	related to autonomy, reasoning and learning, but also
	embodies the need for external senses. Without external
	senses there is no way of appreciating the difference between
	"me" and "outside of me". Sensationations of pain and
	pleasure can provide motivation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
			DEFINITION OF TERMS.

1)	A "system" CAN be comprised of multiple subsystems, each one
	of these could be a system in its own right (systems theory).

2)	The "environment" in which the system exists MUST be external
	to the system, but that is as far as the definition of the
	environment goes (it could be computer generated).

3)	The terms "learning", "reasoning" and "autonomy" are
	BEHAVIOURAL characteristics, further supported by our
	understanding (to date) of how they MIGHT work.

4)	The term "self awareness" is based on learning, reasoning
	and autonomy, and is the state where the system is aware
	(has knowledge) of its own existence as separate from its
	environment.

5)	"Intelligence" is a BEHAVIOURAL phenomena displayed by
	intelligent systems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:	If you step OUTSIDE the boundaries of the "definition of
	terms", your comments will simply be ignored, but feel free to
	add definitions or modify them if it will help clarify the
	"general requirements for an intelligent system".

		With Regards,

				Philip Nettleton,
				Tutor in Computer Science,
				Department of Maths, Stats, and Computing,
				The University of New England,
				Armidale,
				New South Wales,
				2351,
				AUSTRALIA.