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Subject: Re: Computer Chess Programs & Intelligence

Author: Ricardo Gibert

Date: 20:20:55 03/13/01

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On March 13, 2001 at 22:33:46, Vincent Vega wrote:

>On March 13, 2001 at 21:11:45, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>
>>On March 13, 2001 at 19:06:27, HECTOR MUNOZ wrote:
>>
>>>There are some who might argue  that a computer chess program  is not a
>>>demonstration of intelligence  in particular, a program which uses Shannon's
>>>Type A  Approach. I need to present a solid argument that such a program
>>>does involve intelligence.
>>
>>Trying to come up with "a solid argument that such a program does involve
>>intelligence" is too defensive and probably impossible anyway. If you want to
>>win a debate, don't ask any questions he expects and shift attention away from
>>difficult questions he might ask by answering questions with questions, etc.
>>
>>For instance, at the earliest possible moment, when he asks you to provide proof
>>that machines are intelligent, you counter by asking *him* to provide proof that
>>*he* is intelligent. The list of intellectual accomplishments the average
>>individual has is embarrassingly short, so whatever he says in response, you can
>>belittle and attack ruthlessly. Whatever he says, you can discount by pointing
>>out that it has been done before and so he is just "copying". Not a sign of
>>intelligence at all, etc. He will find it very embarassing. For most people, the
>>list is empty. Your implicit stategy then is: a program is at least as
>>intelligent as a person, since the average person can provide little evidence of
>>intelligence that is not easily disputable.
>
>Hmmm, I can find quite a few "accomplishments" that could be defined as
>requiring intelligence (because they require learning, adapting to new
>situations, generalization or reasoning) and can be achieved by most people but
>not by a currently existing computer program: getting a "human-range" score on
>an IQ test, learning a foreign language, driving a car without crashing, playing
>a team sport, summarizing an article, writing a computer program based on
>requirements...

The only one you mention that is interesting is "summarizing an article".
Programs have been written to pass a standardized IQ test, a parrot can learn a
foreign language, on the Santa Monica freeway in California there is a
experimental program underway where the car is driven by a computer (besides,
the human record on not crashing is hardly stellar), robo-soccer is a team sport
where robots take part and as for writing computer programs, a non-trivial
program that does not contain bugs is pretty much unheard of. It is pretty
difficult to defend the behavior of humans as "intelligent" when they make so
many horrific mistakes such as undemine the environment, World War I & II, etc.
Human behavior does not bear close scrutiny. For the most part, humans act with
stupidity rather than intelligence. We make too many mistakes.

Besides, it is the average individual that has difficulty proving their
intelligence. For Albert Einstein, it's no problem. My point was machines seem
to be no less intelligent than the average human being especially given human
folly.



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