Artificial Intelligence

Of all the amazing technologies on the brink of creation, one has implications far beyond any others: the establishment of superhuman artificial intelligence, or AI.

Can machines think? In 1950, Alan Turing, considered by some to be the father of modern computing, published a paper in which he proposed that, "If, during text-based conversation, a machine is indistinguishable from a human, then it could be said to be 'thinking' and, therefore, could be attributed with intelligence." He predicted that a computer would pass this "Turing Test" by the end of the century.

The first electronic computer was tested in 1942. Since that time, computers have changed a great deal, but my own brain has not changed much. While computers have gotten faster and more powerful, I'm still using the first brain installed in my skull.

Artificial intelligence, long considered obscure and unmonetizable, is starting to find its groove.

Science fiction fans like me have long been fascinated with the idea of a machine that could actually think and behave like a human being, or one that could surpass even the best human being at some human task.

This video hosts a debate between J. Storrs Hall and Hugo de Garis at the 2nd AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) conference, 2009.

Jacques Pitrat's new book Artificial Ethics: Moral Conscience, Awareness and Consciencousness will be of interest to anyone who likes robotics, software, artificial intelligence, cognitive science and science-fiction.

Machines take over fast food. None of the robots like the humans. There is a meat substitute, and a cheese substitute: Ever think there will be a human substitute?

This paper is based on talks given in a Conference on the Conceptual Aspects of Biocommunications, Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, October 1962; and in the Artificial Intelligence Sessions of the Winter General Meetings of the IEEE, January 1963.

… it’s AGI now. I was interested to hear via Robots.net that Artificial General Intelligence had enjoyed a successful second conference recently.

Big Blue has created a software program called "Watson" that professes to understand and synthesize plain-language queries fast enough to compete with human contestants on the quiz show.

A detailed simulation of a small region of a brain built molecule by molecule has been constructed and has recreated experimental results from real brains.

Crunch continues to affect the worldwide markets the need for efficient methods to combat financial fraud has become more important than ever. Now researchers at the University of Sunderland are working on a smart computer that they believe will be able to detect insider trading fraud within the stock exchange almost instantly.

People who believe that the mind can be replicated on a computer tend to explain the mind in terms of a computer.

As science fiction plot lines go, the unintended consequences of yielding tasks too complicated or dangerous for human hands to computers and robots is a popular one. Yet real life scientists are increasingly doing just that, creating automated systems and devices that can not only help collect, organize and analyze scientific data, but that are also able to intelligently and independently draw up new hypotheses and approaches to research based on the data they receive.