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"