2008 Woodie Awards
Artificial intelligence rapidly advances
Andrew Cross
Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: News
At the mention of artificial intelligence (AI), one typically thinks of alien technology out of a science fiction movie.
However, AI is actually applicable in our day to day lives.
The concept of artificial intelligence was created in 1956 with the construction of computers that could solve algebra problems and prove logical theorems. It has since grown into a vital entity in our society.
The rapid pace of technological improvements lends itself to one question, what happens when computers become smarter than we are?
Hugo de Garis, professor of theoretical physics and computer science at Wuhan University's International School of Software, is published in the field of artificial intelligence.
"Whatever intellectual and emotional capacities we humans have are the result of the appropriate circuitry in our brains," de Garis said.
"If we want to put emotions into our future…machines, then we only have to provide the appropriate circuitry," de Garis said.
The popular Tamogatchis and Giga Pets of the 1990s are prime examples of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is used today in calculators, GPS navigation, home security systems and banks. An estimated 700,000 robots are used worldwide for industrial purposes.
In 1997, world chess champion Gary Kasparov put his skills to the test against a machine created by a team of engineers at IBM. The machine, dubbed "Deep Blue" by its creators, trumped the chess master after only 19 rounds of play.
Although Kasparov was bested by the computer, Deep Blue was originally programmed by a team of engineers over a period of several years. Deep Blue's hard drive cycled through 200 million possible moves every second, something no human being could do in a year.
Tyler Emerson of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence believes that there is practically no limit to the amount of information a computer can store.
"Japan announced plans to begin building the world's fastest supercomputer in 2006," Emerson said.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, predicted in 1965 that the number of transistors on a computer chip would double every two years. His prediction proved to be correct, leading some experts to believe that computers will eventually surpass humans in intellect.
Hiroaki Kitano, head of an international AI research group, made a prediction that by the year 2050, "a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players will win a soccer game against the winner of the most recent World Cup."
Critics respond by saying that although computers can perform certain physical tasks, they will never be able to exhibit certain characteristics of intelligence, such as empathy.
This possibility could open doors for humanity as well. Brain implants with special chips could allow humans to think at unimaginable speeds. Many artificial intelligence researchers feel ethical guidelines should be developed as soon as possible.
However, AI is actually applicable in our day to day lives.
The concept of artificial intelligence was created in 1956 with the construction of computers that could solve algebra problems and prove logical theorems. It has since grown into a vital entity in our society.
The rapid pace of technological improvements lends itself to one question, what happens when computers become smarter than we are?
Hugo de Garis, professor of theoretical physics and computer science at Wuhan University's International School of Software, is published in the field of artificial intelligence.
"Whatever intellectual and emotional capacities we humans have are the result of the appropriate circuitry in our brains," de Garis said.
"If we want to put emotions into our future…machines, then we only have to provide the appropriate circuitry," de Garis said.
The popular Tamogatchis and Giga Pets of the 1990s are prime examples of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is used today in calculators, GPS navigation, home security systems and banks. An estimated 700,000 robots are used worldwide for industrial purposes.
In 1997, world chess champion Gary Kasparov put his skills to the test against a machine created by a team of engineers at IBM. The machine, dubbed "Deep Blue" by its creators, trumped the chess master after only 19 rounds of play.
Although Kasparov was bested by the computer, Deep Blue was originally programmed by a team of engineers over a period of several years. Deep Blue's hard drive cycled through 200 million possible moves every second, something no human being could do in a year.
Tyler Emerson of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence believes that there is practically no limit to the amount of information a computer can store.
"Japan announced plans to begin building the world's fastest supercomputer in 2006," Emerson said.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, predicted in 1965 that the number of transistors on a computer chip would double every two years. His prediction proved to be correct, leading some experts to believe that computers will eventually surpass humans in intellect.
Hiroaki Kitano, head of an international AI research group, made a prediction that by the year 2050, "a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players will win a soccer game against the winner of the most recent World Cup."
Critics respond by saying that although computers can perform certain physical tasks, they will never be able to exhibit certain characteristics of intelligence, such as empathy.
This possibility could open doors for humanity as well. Brain implants with special chips could allow humans to think at unimaginable speeds. Many artificial intelligence researchers feel ethical guidelines should be developed as soon as possible.
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