Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!AMSLER@SRI-AI.ARPA From: AMSLER@SRI-AI.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.ai Subject: Japanese 5th Generation Effort Message-ID: <4248@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Mon, 8-Aug-83 16:58:36 EDT Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.4248 Posted: Mon Aug 8 16:58:36 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Aug-83 09:57:42 EDT Lines: 13 From: Robert Amsler It seems to me that the 5th generation effort differs from most efforts we are familiar with in being strictly top-down. That is to say, the Japanese are willing to start work not only without knowing how to solve the nitty-gritty problems at the bottom--but without knowing what those nitty-gritty problems actually are. Although dangerous, this is a very powerful research strategy. Until it gets bogged down due to an almost insurmountable number of unsolvable technical problems one can expect very rapid progress indeed. When it does get bogged down, their understanding of the problems will be as great as that of anyone else in the world. The best way to learn is by doing.