Let’s dream of ai (Artificial Intelligence) Artificial intelligence

Computers have become part of everyday life. Today's schoolchildren carry around calculating power which would have filled a large room forty years ago. Computer scientists are now working on the next generation of computers; ones which will have true intelligence. The first step on the way is the development of 'expert systems'. An expert system is partially intelligent.

At Stanford University a computer has been developed for medical diagnosis. It stores 125 facts about each of 600 diseases. It can tell doctors which questions to ask, and which measurements to take. It can then analyse the result and make an accurate diagnosis.

At the University of California they have been working on computers which can write stories, while IBM has developed the Epistle program for business letters which can correct spelling, improve grammar and style and even check for mistakes by giving a list of words with similar sounds. One of the most interesting programs has been developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and it is a kind of computer psychiatrist.

The program, which was developed by Professor Joseph Weizenbaum, is called Eliza. It uses a technique known as 'reflective listening'. The computer seems to understand, and to make sympathetic responses. In fact it does not understand a word that is being typed into it. Nevertheless, Weizenbaum's secretary fell under the spell of the machine. Weizenbaum says:

Well, I asked her to my office and sat her down at the keyboard, and she began to type and of course I looked at her to make sure everything was operating properly. After two or three interchanges with the machine she turned to me and she said, "Would you mind leaving the room please?"

Eliza responds sympathetically to what is typed in, but that it never adds new information, or gives an opinion. Ordinary psychiatrists use this reflective listening technique, too.

Here is an example of Eliza in operation:

Input Eliza

It's my girlfriend. So, you're worried about your girlfriend.

I'm a bit upset. Why do you feel upset?

She doesn't understand me. She doesn't understand you?

She argues with everything I say. Why do you think she argues with you?

She's afraid of me. Does it please you to think she's afraid of you?No, but... she goes crazy. What exactly do you mean by crazy?

She makes me miserable. I'm sorry to hear you're miserable.

Psychiatrists (and teachers I) say that this technique helps people to talk about themselves, and that talking about themselves helps them.

1. Try this technique with some fellow students. A is consulting В. В does not give any opinion, but simply listens sympathetically. Make a list of 'problems' for A to speak about. It's a good way of keeping a conversation going.

Eliza simply operates a clever program and cannot be described as artificial intelligence. The program can be fooled:

Eliza Hi! I'm Eliza. What's your problem? Computers What is it about machines that worries you? They are stupid I'm not sure I understand you fully You cannot think Oh, I cannot think That is correct Come, come elucidate your thoughts why What else comes to mind when you ask that? Bananas Can you elaborate on that? What does that suggest to you? Me I see

Where are your eyes? Why are you interested in whether or not I am r eyes That is rubbish I'm not sure I understand you fully I cannot help that Come, come elucidate your thoughts You are repeating yourself Does it please you to believe I am repeating myself? No Why not? Please leave the room Can you elaborate on that? Go Say, do you have any psychological problems?

However it may not be very long before truly intelligent computers are created. What will happen? Two eminent scientists at MIT have expressed views on this:

Professor Edward Fredken (МГГ) Professor Fredken thinks that the artificial intelligences of the future will be concerned with weighty problems that humans cannot understand. He thinks that they may condescend to talk to us occasionally, to amuse us and to play games that we enjoy. In some sense they might, he suggests, keep us as pets.

Professor Joseph Weizenbaum (МГГ) Professor Weizenbaum expanded on the idea of computers keeping us as pets and quoted Arthur C. Clarkc (the author of 2001) as saying it would serve us right. Weizenbaum queries the use of the word 'us'. He points out that the thousand or so people working on the high-level computers are doing so without having asked the rest of 'us' our opinion/permission. We will all be affected, however, if they produce the monstrosities that are being forecast. He concludes that this situation says a great deal about the issue of responsibility in science.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. Do you believe in the computer intelligence?

2. If you had a chance to choose either to be tested by a computer or by a human being, which would you prefer and why?

3. Do you think the program Eliza is a good one? Why? Identify its merits and demerits.

4. What other computer programs do you know?

5. Have you ever tried to develop a program? What must a programmer know to develop a good one?

6. Would you like to be a citizen of a computer land and be ruled and controlled by computers?

7. What films devoted to the problem of artificial intelligence have you seen?

III. Be ready to talk on the following topics:

1. Home computers have become powerful tools of knowledge.

2. Internet is a source of information and a means of communication.

3. The possibilities of advanced technology. Will it bring people together or isolate them?

4. Artificial Intelligence, its role and influence on homo sapience.

5. You are a computer designer. What computer are you going to develop?

6. Computers in 50 years. Their role in everyday life and their possibilities.

IV. Compose dialogues on the following situations.

1. Discuss with your friends the possibilities of intelligent computers.

2. Discuss the problems the artificial intelligence of the future will be concerned with.

3. Discuss the interrelations between a computer and a man.

J u s t  f o r   f u n

1. This is an extract from a novel, Satan by Jeremy Leven, in which Lupa meets a truly intelligent computer.

 

Lupa laughed. She liked the voice that had been selected for the computer. It wasn't the typical low mechanical voice that sounded like a record being played at too slow a speed. It sounded natural. It had charm to it.

"Do you have a name?" Lupa asked.

"Not yet," the computer answered.

"They're running a contest. The kids are supposed to name me. I'm dreading the whole thing, believe me."

Now Lupa thought this was clever, the way they had programmed the computer. She wondered it there was some way to screw up the program. She had once heard that even a sophisticated analog computer couldn't pick up certain subtleties in the English language, no matter how good the programming, so she decided to give it a try.

"My paws give me pause," she said.

The computer was silent.

"My paws give me pause," Lupa repeated. "It's a clause without claws."

Lupa waited in silence for a response.

"You know something," the computer said. "I thought you'd be different. Just once today I was hoping I'd get someone who wouldn't try to beat the program”.

Lupa smiled. This was marvelous, she thought to herself. They'd thought of everything.

"Sorry," she said. "My displace".

"Ah, you speak Italian", the computer said with some sarcasm.

"Oui, d'accord," Lupa answered.

"C'est vrai."

"And French, too. Your French is better than your Italian. Though neither one is great. Now, if you excuse me, I have to shut down. It's closing time."

Lupa stood up and walked around the room. It was evident to her that somewhere in the building, listening through an intercom, was someone with a microphone. She thought about how to test for this.

"You wouldn't happen to know what day of the week September the fourteenth, 1321, fell on, would you?" Lupa asked.

"It was a Sunday," the computer answered, "but how do you know whether I'm right? Thank you for visiting the computer exhibit."

2. Design a computer for your home. Write a description of it and its functions.

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