Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!iuvax!rutgers!mcnc!rti!h-three!ned
From: ned@h-three.UUCP (ned)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Artificial Intelligence and Intelligence
Message-ID: <505@h-three.UUCP>
Date: 23 Dec 88 18:09:10 GMT
References: <484@soleil.UUCP> <88Nov15.170837est.707@neat.ai.toronto.edu> <16@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>
Organization: h-three Systems, Research Triangle Park,  NC
Lines: 21

In article <16@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>, markh@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Mark William Hopkins) writes:
> I do believe that human intelligence is beyond human comprehension.  The
> reason is that the day we learn about our intelligence as it currently
> exists, we'll experience a quantum leap in our own intelligence AS A RESULT.
> So we'll always be one step behind ourselves.

I don't think that the *mechanics* of human intelligence are beyond human
comprehension or will change due to any increase in knowledge.  Of course,
the brain will evolve, but I think we have time to figure it out before
our information becomes obsolete. :-)

> Signals in our nervous system travel at about 700 MPH (if my memory is 
> correct).  Signals in Silicon travel about 1 *MILLION* times faster.
> It's not whether AI is possible, no, the question is how long it will be
> before the machine's capacity exceeds our own, as it will.

What if it turns out that chemical processes are practically the only means
of creating human-like intelligence?  If so, our machines may not be any
faster or more capable than the brain.

-- Ned Robie		uunet!h-three!ned