Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!bloom-beacon!uwslh.UUCP!lishka
From: lishka@uwslh.UUCP (Fish-Guts)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest
Subject: Re: possible value of AI
Message-ID: <880628230854.7.NICK@WITHERING.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Date: 29 Jun 88 03:08:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 60
Approved: ailist@ai.ai.mit.edu

Return-path: <@AI.AI.MIT.EDU,@KL.SRI.COM:uwvax!uucp@rutgers.edu>
Received: from AI.AI.MIT.EDU by ZERMATT.LCS.MIT.EDU via CHAOS with SMTP id 167751; 26 Jun 88 22:53:10 EDT
Received: from KL.SRI.COM (TCP 1200200002) by AI.AI.MIT.EDU 26 Jun 88 22:54:25 EDT
Received: from rutgers.edu by KL.SRI.COM with TCP; Sun, 26 Jun 88 19:52:40 PDT
Received: by rutgers.edu (5.54/1.15) with UUCP 
	id AA07558; Sun, 26 Jun 88 19:16:52 EDT
Received: by spool.cs.wisc.edu; Sun, 26 Jun 88 18:00:07 CDT
To: comp-ai-digest@rutgers.edu
Path: uwvax!uwslh!lishka
From: uwvax!uwslh!lishka@rutgers.edu (Fish-Guts)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest
Subject: Re: possible value of AI
Message-Id: <341@uwslh.UUCP>
Date: 26 Jun 88 15:41:38 GMT
References: <19880625192536.9.NICK@INTERLAKEN.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Reply-To: uwvax!uwslh!lishka@rutgers.edu (Fish-Guts)
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison, State Hygiene Lab
Lines: 41


In a previous article, DJS%UTRC@utrcgw.utc.COM writes:
>Gilbert Cockton writes:
>
>"... Once again, what the hell can a computer program tell us about
>ourselves? Secondly, what can it tell us that we couldn't find out by
>studying people instead?"
>
>What do people use mirrors for? What the hell can a MIRROR tell us about
>ourselves? Secondly, what can it tell us that we couldn't find out by
>studying people instead?

     Personally, I think everything can tell us something about
ourselves, be it mirror, computer, or rock.  Maybe it depends on what
one expects to find?

>	Isn't it possible that a computer program could have properties
>which might facilitate detailed self analysis? I believe some people
>have already seen the dim reflection of true intelligence in the primitive
>attempts of AI research. Hopefully all that is needed is extensive 
>polishing and the development of new tools.

     Whether or not there has been a "dim reflection of true
intelligence in the primitive attempts of AI research" is an opinion,
varying greatly with who you talk to.  I would think that there are
"some people" who have already seen "true intelligence" (however
bright or dim) in anything and everything.  Again, their opinions.

>				David Sirag
>				UTRC

     The above are my opinions, although they might be those of my
cockatiels as well.

					-Chris
-- 
Christopher Lishka                | lishka@uwslh.uucp  
Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene    | lishka%uwslh.uucp@cs.wisc.edu
Immunology Section  (608)262-1617 | ...!{rutgers|ucbvax|...}!uwvax!uwslh!lishka
"...Just because someone is shy and gets straight A's does not mean they won't
put wads of gum in your arm pits."
                          - Lynda Barry, "Ernie Pook's Commeek: Gum of Mystery"