Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!sri-spam!rutgers!gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!gollum!rolandi
From: rolandi@gollum.Columbia.NCR.COM (rolandi)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Practical effects of AI
Message-ID: <12@gollum.Columbia.NCR.COM>
Date: Sat, 31-Oct-87 08:52:15 EST
Article-I.D.: gollum.12
Posted: Sat Oct 31 08:52:15 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Nov-87 03:48:06 EST
Reply-To: rolandi@gollum.UUCP ()
Followup-To: kirby@ut-ngp.UUCP
Organization: NCR Advanced Systems, Columbia, SC
Lines: 42
Keywords: ai future effects
To: kirby@ut-ngp.UUCP



In article <6667@ut-ngp.UUCP> you write:
>I have a question for people:
>   What practical effects do you think AI will have in the next ten
>years?
>........[etc...]

I 'd say that AI will have at least two real and immediate effects.

	1) given AI programming tools and techniques, many processes
	   previously assumed to be too complicated for automation
	   will be automated.  the automation of these tasks will
    	   take less time given the productivity gains that AI tools
	   can provide. expert systems will be common place within
	   the DP/MIS world.

	2) AI will make computers easier to use and therefore extend
	   their usefulness to non-computer people.

Regarding #2 above...

It would seem to me that the single greatest practical advancement for
AI will be in speaker independent, continuous speech recognition. This
is NOT to imply total computer "comprehension" in the sense of being
able to carry on an unrestricted conversation.  I am NOT referring to
abilities to process natural language.  That, is a long way off, and
will most likely come about as a function of a redefinition of the NLP
problem in terms of a machine learning issue.  What "simple" speaker
independent, continuous speech recognition will provide is the ultimate
alternative to keyboard entry.  This would thereby provide all of  
the functionality of current technology to anyone who could pronounce
the commands.  This issue will have a major impact on the industry and
on society.  By making "every body" a user, more machines will be sold,
and because "every body" will have different needs, tha range of  
automation will be widely extended.


-w.rolandi
ncrcae!gollum!rolandi

disclaimer: i speak for no one but myself and usually no one else is
	    listening.