Wright’s essay was not what I was expecting in terms of an article about Artificial Intelligence, especially since previous articles have set a more scholarly, rigid tone. His piece really made it easier for those who do not really have a great deal of interest or understanding of the subject to really grasp the ideas and concepts behind machines and AI in general. Wright begins his article by describing a chess match that had just taken place between a human and computer; the computer represented AI and whether or not machines can really do it better than humans while the man, Garry Kasparov, was a symbol of hope for real flesh and blood people. Wright’s introduction has an obvious bias toward human existence, making it clear which team he was hoping to succeed. Wright goes on to discuss how Kasparov narrowly wins the match but shows a fatal flaw in AI in general: no common sense or soul for that matter (Wright, 140).
By exposing this lack of emotion in our machines, the author sets the reader up to discover how this absence of so called “street smarts” and passion has led to more scientific question about our own mind and state of consciousness. Wright mentions several different scientists and philosophers with their own views on Artificial Intelligence such as: Turing (creator of the Turing Test), Minsky, and Chalmers. Wright discusses their particular points of view as well as their discoveries in the world of AI. The author manages to stay with the reader throughout the article, making it feel as though we are all learning the baby steps and beginning stages of such a complex subject. Most readers, and as Wright mentions, have trouble separating our actual consciousness and ideas from our brain (Wright, 142). Some scientists claim to have discovered it all and have truly unlocked the secrets of the brain while other strongly state that the mind is still a mystery (Wright, 143). The author does very well to show both sides of the issue and let the reader know just how much thought and research has gone into solving the complexity that is consciousness.
Overall, Robert Wright made it much easier to complete this particular writing assignment. Instead of feeling like an outsider, barely grasping the ideas behind Artificial Intelligence, I felt revived. I now know even the smartest scientists in the world still argue about what exactly our thoughts and state of consciousness actually is and whether or not it is a mystery that will ever be solved. How can we know if a machine we just created has thoughts or its own level of awareness when we do not fully understand what that entails? Even if they did function with a mind of their own, machines still lack the basic instincts as well as common sense needed in order to essentially survive in the world today. It was a very pleasant surprise to read an article I could actually understand, and even come away with more knowledge when it comes to AI. Not only is the questioned raised regarding a machine’s ability to possess a state of total awareness, but the thought of us not being able to completely comprehend our own consciousness is brought to the light.
Wright, Robert. Can Machines Think? Maybe So, As Deep Blue's Chess Prowess Suggests.
Time: 25, March 1996. Time Inc.
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