Beyond AI: Creating the Conscience of the Machine

Science News,  Sept 15, 2007  

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BEYOND AI: Creating the Conscience of the Machine J. STORRS HALL

Machines that have the capacity to outsmart humans, and thereby take over civilization, have long been the subject of science fiction. As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, supersmart machines may become reality. Today, robots can already drive cars, play soccer, and locate information on the Web. What will tomorrow's machines be able to do? And will designers eventually need to consider the consciences of the machines that they create? Hall, a renowned computer scientist, delves into these questions and others, outlining the possibilities that arise when scientists strive to build machines that think like people do. He reviews the history of AI and cybernetics, beginning with early attempts to automate logical processes, manipulate information, and model thought He envisions machines with the ability to learn from experience or to draw conclusions. Finally, he considers the ethical and moral consequences of AI. Prometheus, 2007, 408 p., hardcover, $28.00.

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