One corollary to the improbable notion of replacing libraries with the
Internet is the notion that the development of search engines and
artificial intelligence will reach a point where librarians, i.e.,
mediated searches, will no longer be needed. If you feel the need for
some ammunition against such thinking, I suggest you see the article in
/Skeptic/ magazine, vol. 12, no. 2 (2006) by Peter Kassan, "AI Gone
Awry: The Futile Quest for Artificial Intelligence." The article points
out the extremely awesome task of trying to duplicate human
intelligence, with actual numbers and examples of the complexity of the
issue.
It is a well written article, with citations to much of the leading work
in the fields he is covering. It is also an easy read.
Frankly, I found the article to be too much from the viewpoint of
scientism, i.e, the belief that science can point out and improve
objective truth over time in progressive development. That is usually
how I find the articles in /Skeptic/, and the main purpose of the
magazine, to debunk paranormal "science" that does not employ the
scientific method, is well served by that attitude. But in this
instance, I think he gives too little shrift to the possibility of
developing vastly better computers and robotics in the next few
decades. Those who religiously employ the notion of the inexorable
progress of science often forget the occasional paradigm shifting new
theories, and he missed a couple that I am aware of, such as fractal
geometry, hyperbolic spaces, and, surprisingly, cognitive linguistics.
And he actually misses part of his case. It is not just the 30 billion
neurons in the cortex that we need to duplicate, it is the whole 100
billion neurons in the whole brain, because, as cognitive linguistics
and cognitive science have recently shown, sensory and emotional
experience are the basis for conceptual thinking. He thinks the job is
impossible; I just think it's going to take quite a long time and a lot
of money.
Nevertheless, our jobs are safe for a very long time, at least from
being replaced by artificial intelligence systems, if not by being
de-funded by unknowing bean counters.
Happy Friday.
Charley Dyer
-- Charles R. Dyer 808 East Maple Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360-738-6439 fax 360-738-6439 (call first) mobile 619-559-1845 charlesrdyer@clearwire.net
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