Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!boulder!uswat!ken From: ken@uswat.uswest.com (Kenny Chaffin) Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: Thinking Machines Message-ID: <13440@uswat.UUCP> Date: 3 Dec 90 18:21:02 GMT References: <9^}^-!+@rpi.edu-> Sender: news@uswat.UUCP Distribution: na Organization: US WEST Advanced Technologies, CO, USA Lines: 47 In article <9^}^-!+@rpi.edu-> lunwic@aix03.aix.rpi.edu (Jeffrey G Lunn) writes: -> -> This is a subject that I have been thinking a lot about in the last ->couple of weeks. We discussed it in one of my classes and it prompted me to ->write a paper about it. Suppose that one day we are capable of constructing ->computers that are able to think - that is, think in the sense that you or I ->do. They would be able to look at any problem, formulate a hypothesis about ->how to go about solving that problem, then think through the steps necessary ->to come up with a solution. If no logical solution is apparent, this computer ->would perform an educated guess based intuitively on what it "felt" is the ->correct solution, much like humans do in similar situations. My question is, ->should we let such thinking machines exist? I feel that people would be too ->tempted to let such machines take over previously human thinking tasks such ->as figuring out difficult mathematical problems or searching for new elementary ->physics particles or even writing poetry. It is possible that by letting ->machines do the cerebral work, the collective human mind would stagnate from ->lack of meaningful stimulation. Then humans would live for nothing but to ->survive and to be as comfortable as possible. I do not consider this a ->meaningful way of life. What do others think? Can mankind develop such ->machines without sacrificing their drive for mental stimulation? Or would ->the situation that I described occur? -> - Jeff Lunn First you have to consider that once an intelligence (set of intell) exists that is different than ours it will immediately have it's own motivations. Will the machines still need us, Will they be able to pro- create? do they need to? Perhaps in the scheme of "life" intelligent machines are the next stage and humans wont be bored, they will simply die out. Even with another intelligence there are still questions to ponder and answer such as why are we here? What was the origin of the universe, the origin of life? etc. Perhaps we can work on them together with our new intelligent mechanical friends? KAC "Anybody want a drink before the war?" Sinead O'Connor >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kenny A. Chaffin {...boulder}!uswat!ken U S WEST Advanced Technologies (303) 930-5356 6200 South Quebec Englewood, CO 80111 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com