Mention artificial intelligence and someone is bound to scream "save us from the robots". It’s been the same ever since the brilliant pioneer Alan Turing worked on what he called "intelligent machinery" at the National Physical Laboratory in London, where in 1948 some of his colleges were reported to have claimed: "Turing is going to infest the countryside with a robot which will live on twigs and scrap iron!". Turing considered giving an intelligent machine wheels, arms and camera eyes so that it was mobile enough to find things out for itself in the world. He was also aware of the potential risks this posed to ordinary citizens - a startling example of his foresight. Bots like us
Ontologically, there is nothing special or unknowable about the human body, which includes the central nervous system and brain. It follows that it will be only a matter of time until our level of understanding is such that we can replicate the brain artificially. Your correspodent's unsupported and dogmatic statement to the contrary is not helpful and I expect it will fare as badly as past claims that mankind would never fly or make it to the Moon.
Hysteria at the possibility of loosing our place as the "smartest" species on the planet needs to be put aside if we are to consider ways in which artificial intelligences could be made to co-exist with us to our benefit. Risk assessment and safety considerations are clearly important, but much of the problem is caused by our attitude. We give a stranger the benefit of the doubt when it comes to whether they are dangerous or not - catching a bus or visiting the shops would seem impossible otherwise. What is stopping us doing the same for an intelligent machine? The answer is irrational human prejudice.
Craig Webster
References
- "Life as we know it" Editorial, New Scientist 1999; 161(2168): 3.
- "Robot terror" New Scientist 1999; 161(2171): 49.
