Machines who think : a personal inquiry into the history and prospects of artificial intelligence

"Pamela McCorduck first went among the artificial intelligentsia when the field was fresh and new, and asked the scientists engaged in it what they were doing and why. She saw artificial intelligence as the scientific apotheosis of one of the most enduring, glorious, often amusing, and sometimes alarming, traditions of human culture: the endless fascination with artifacts that think. Machines Who Think was translated into many languages, became an international cult classic, and stayed in print for nearly twenty years." "Now, Machines, Who Think is back, along with an extended Afterword that brings the field up to date in the last quarter century, including its scientific and its public faces. McCorduck shows how, from a slightly dubious fringe science, artificial intelligence has moved slowly (though not always steadily) to a central place in our everyday lives, and how it will be even more crucial as the World Wide Web moves into its next generation."--Jacket. � Read more... Abstract: Pamela McCorduck revisits the artificial intelligence arena and updates this look at the history and future of artificial intelligence with over 100 pages of new material. This title should inspire anyone interested in human intelligence and the future of machine intelligence. � Read more... Pamela Mccorduck First Went Among The Artificial Intelligentsia When The Field Was Fresh And New, And Asked The Scientists Engaged In It What They Were Doing And Why. She Saw Artificial Intelligence As The Scientific Apotheosis Of One Of The Most Enduring, Glorious, Often Amusing, And Sometimes Alarming, Traditions Of Human Culture: The Endless Fascination With Artifacts That Think. Machines Who Think Was Translated Into Many Languages, Became An International Cult Classic, And Stayed In Print For Nearly Twenty Years. Now, Machines Who Think Is Back, Along With An Extended Addition That Brings The Field Up To Date In The Last Quarter Century, Including Its Scientific And Its Public Faces. Mccorduck Shows How, From A Slightly Dubious Fringe Science, Artificial Intelligence Has Moved Slowly (though Not Always Steadily) To A Central Place In Our Everyday Lives, And How It Will Be Even More Crucial As The World Wide Web Moves Into Its Next Generation. Content: Time Line: The Mechanization of Thinking -- Beginnings -- Brass for Brain -- From Energy to Information -- The Machinery of Wisdom -- Meat Machines -- The Turning Point -- The Dartmouth Conference -- The Information-Processing Model -- Fun and Games -- Resistance -- Us and Them -- L'Affaire Dreyfus -- Realizations -- Robotics and General Intelligence -- Language, Scenes, Symbols, and Understanding -- Applied Artificial Intelligence -- The Tensions of Choice -- Can a Made-Up Mind Be Moral? -- Forging the Gods -- The Following Quarter-Century of Artificial Intelligence -- Timeline: The Evolution of Intelligence. Contents 7 Foreword 11 Preface 17 The Mechanization of Thinking 23 Brass for Brain 33 From Energy to Information 67 The Machinery of Wisdom 89 Meat Machines 115 The Dartmouth Conference 141 The Information- Processing Model 167 Fun and Games 201 Us and Them 225 L’Affaire Dreyfus 241 Robotics and General Intelligence 273 Language, Scenes, Symbols, and Understanding 307 Applied Artificial Intelligence 347 Can a Made- Up Mind Be Moral? 383 Forging the Gods1 411 The Following Quarter- Century of Artificial Intelligence 447 The Evolution of Intelligence 553 Bibliography 565 Index 577 This book is a history of artificial intelligence, that audacious effort to duplicate in an artifact what we consider to be our most important property—our intelligence. It is an invitation for anybody with an interest in the future of the human race to participate in the inquiry. Can a machine think? This question is in a class with those snappy vaudeville comebacks: does a chicken have lips?