Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!midway!msuinfo!frith!dailey From: dailey@frith.uucp (Chris Dailey) Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy Subject: Re: AI - the real problem Message-ID: <1991Feb8.231547.28280@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> Date: 8 Feb 91 23:15:47 GMT References: <22951@well.sf.ca.us> <3035@yarra-glen.aaii.oz.au> Sender: news@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu Distribution: comp Organization: Michigan State University Lines: 38 In article mikeb@wdl35.wdl.loral.com (Michael H Bender) writes: >David Kinny writes: [...] > If we could understand the workings of a lizard mind it would be a > major step towards understanding human cognitive processes. [...] >I honestly do believe that there is a valid reason for trying to understand >the workings of a lizard, however I also believe that there is also a very >valid reason for introspection and understanding of conscious cognitive >processes. Although somewhat looked down upon currently, it is likely that >expert system technology grew out of this type of research. We also need to try to understand what all minds have in common. Which basic instincts that are common among all (somewhat intelligent) living creatures would need to be held in common by an artificial intelligence to truly be intelligent? (Of course we wouldn't want to limit ourselves to just these attributes -- maybe this would be a sufficient condition, but not a necessary condition.) Would survival be one of these traits? If so, would we give a machine the ability to control its own survival? Would we make it so it could intelligent enough to make sure we couldn't destroy it? If we are not willing to do so, could we actually create intelligence? (maybe a catch-22) What artificial intelligence is there that actually tries to mimic the basic attributes among various species? I would think that if we took a good look, we wouldn't find much (although I am not at all well versed with AI literature). Maybe that is where the challenge should lie. Maybe in attempting such a feat we would learn so much more about our own intelligence and about the other areas of AI. >Mike Bender -- Chris Dailey dailey@(frith.egr|cps).msu.edu __ __ ___ | "A line in the sand." -- The Detroit News __/ \/ \/ __:>- | \__/\__/\__/ | "Allein in der sand." -- me