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Subject: Re: Computer Chess Programs & Intelligence

Author: Miguel A. Ballicora

Date: 20:57:21 03/13/01

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On March 13, 2001 at 23:20:55, Ricardo Gibert wrote:

>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.

That is exactly a characteristic of "animal" intelligence. It is based on
mistakes, blurred analogies, prejudice... which are the basement for
pattern recognition. That is what is hardest for machines: To make
mistakes. Making mistakes is sometimes good, it allows a Gazelle to recognize a
Lion as dangerous even though it never saw one. There is a pattern there
very dangerous, that the gazelle can predict.

>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.

The human being is extremely intelligent, but that does not mean is "wise".

Regards,
Miguel






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