Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site ssc-vax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!ditzel
From: ditzel@ssc-vax.UUCP (Charles L Ditzel)
Newsgroups: net.ai
Subject: Re: Lisp Books, Nondeterminism, Japanese Effort
Message-ID: <377@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Aug-83 20:14:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.377
Posted: Fri Aug  5 20:14:19 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Aug-83 10:42:31 EDT
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 35

Whereas it is true the Unites States holds a substantial lead in AI over
the Japanese, it really is beyond me how a person can believe that they
do not have the resources to overcome such a lead. 
In my *opinion* somethings make a possible Japanese lead in AI machines
possible. Like:

*It is a national effort with an attempt to coordinate goals. The fact
that the project will be a coordinated effort rather than various   
incongruously related developments should facilitate compatibility among 
the different topics.

*It may well be that Japan will have to go to the outside world to make their
project a success. What of it...a success is still a success.

*In addition to believe that a priority project supported by both government
and industry will not try to encourage,educate and nurture talented individuals
toward the topics covered by the 5th generation is not realistic. 

*Worse yet, to believe such a project will not have an intense political
and social effect on Japan is also ignoring reality. If and when successes
in project goals do come, various segments of the society and industrial
sectors may begin to participate.

*The 5th generation project at least is visionary, a bit idealistic and
very ambitious. The outside 'egos' don't have an equivalent project in
the United States. (i.e.-one that has substantial backing from industry
and government *and* has fairly substantial financing for the next
five to ten years).

The point is we are very early into the project.... wait a bit.... we
may learn a thing or two if we are not energetic enough.



                                            cld