Week 6: AI

Some philosophers, including John Searle, say that computers are not really intelligent. Rather, they just simulateintelligence. However, it could be argued that, just as computers are programmed to respond in different ways to different commands, so human beings are 'programmed' by society, and education, to perform certain tasks. For example, we are programmed to do complicated things like speak a language, as well as more simply things like brush our teeth.

What are your thoughts on this comparison? Is there any difference between the programming of computers, and the 'programming' of humans by society?




           Personal experience has led me to believe that AI is a simulation of many minds into one powerful mind. Instead of one person having to compete on an intelligence test to another; and AI computer would act as 100 different minds that process information differently and quickly. Therefore computer do simulate intelligence. Theories and formulas are not thought up by computers; they are only enforced and calculated by computers. Even though we are able to input questions into a computer and generate an answer within seconds, a computer doesn’t think of the question to be situational. Instead it locates and shares the ideas inputted relating to the question asked. A computer represents intelligence from humans that stores information that humans discover.

          While computers are being programmed by humans, it would only make sense to assume that humans are also being programed by another source. I find that source to be natural selection. That is the process of adaptation by an organism in order to survive. Computers are not able to do that and humans have done it well over the history of our origin. There are many movies like “iRobot” and “Eagle Eye” where the computer itself tries to avoid deletion or exile. This is where AI becomes fascinating to a point where we can say that computers now can be called a different “species”. However, I have not seen any instance of that by any computer; only humans. Much like computers, humans are programmed by the changes of the environment and its effects on our lives. For example I’ll explain how humans are programmed by society. Emotions change people every second of the day. In the college atmosphere where many people become mature if not already matured. In the process of doing so, the transition from being in high school changes as more material is student oriented instead of teacher involvement. Simply stating that in high school when I needed help on an essay I would be able to go to the teacher during lunch time and correct my grammar and fix my topic explanations so I would be able to get a high grade. In college the change from being given that extra assistance where you’re able to know what the teacher is looking for (since he/she is the one helping you with the assignment) conflicts when you have to determine for yourself what needs to be improved. In doing so, the nature of that transition from high school help to college individual education, “programs” our minds to pay closer attention to our assignments to get the “A” we want. Not only does this type of experiences change or program us, but anything that benefit us will “program” us. Media’s effect has affected many people both of young and old age. Everyone wants the body Kim Kardashian has because she is socially desirable causing its programming to affect young minds. This is one example of the many that causes us to socially be programmed as computers are by us. The way I see it, were in a universe that’s linked together in sequences found in a chain. It’s all cause and effect and its origin is unknown.