Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fascinating, faulty mirror of human consciousness. It is able to demonstrate immense intellect, but cannot reflect human intuition or emotion. We tend to associate AI with robots from science-fiction movies, but it is a controversial reality in modern society that is constantly probed by human psychologists and computer engineers. Furthermore, AI emphasizes the meaning of humanity and the vitality of physical social interaction compared to flat, content-based social media.
AI technologies integrate many computer science concepts, including A* algorithms (Figure 1), which are used in robotics and gaming to find efficient routes between points. The arsenal of AI also includes problem-reduction algorithms, which break down large puzzles into manageable components (Kallem, 2012). The human brain uses similar techniques to navigate and problem solve in the real world.
Public reception to AI is constantly evolving, especially as a result of programs such as Loebner Prize. This competition, similar to a Turing Test, requires a panel of judges to virtually converse with an entity and determine if the conversational partner is human or computer. Many applicants use Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms, which draw upon word databases and follow simple sentence structure guidelines (University of Toronto Psychology, 1999). Similar programs, like Cleverbot, are available online for public use. Initially, this site seems remarkable, but further observation reveals incoherency in the nuances the interaction.
As humans, we constantly strive to understand, and create new technologies to model concepts that we do not yet comprehend. For example, we deliberately model computers after the human brain because we do not fully grasp its power. Despite complex technological advances, there will always be a disparity between machines that we create to imitate us, and the actual complexity of a human being (Young & Christian, 2011). As a result, Cleverbot-like programs are often confusing (Figure 2). While able to construct logical responses, these programs cannot truly converse, as they respond to each statement anew with no realization of connections to previous interactions.
Brian Christian, author of The Most Human Human, believes communication with computers allows us to gain a deeper understanding of humanity (Young & Christian, 2011). Many philosophers, including Descartes and Plato, believed that the factors that separated us from animals made us unique (Allen, C., 2010). We are able to think logically, abstractly, and use numbers – much like computers. With the emergence of AI technologies, we began to see that we are not the sole or superior entities to use this method of “thinking”. Rather, our interactions are unique because humans are embodied and experience the world in a physical way that AI cannot (Young & Christian, 2011). Computers have seemingly endless knowledge, but are unable to make the real-world connections that we observe daily.
While technologies exist to autopilot planes and solve mathematical problems, computers are unable to perform intuitive tasks. They “think” in steps, which makes seemingly simplistic motor skills or object recognition extremely difficult (Young & Christian, 2011). AI communication programs also follow the question-and-answer format of conversation rarely used face to face. Similarly, the danger of social media is this lack of physical interaction, which removes the humanity of relationship through elimination of subtle cues from facial expression and tone of voice. Virtual conversation removes personality and emotion and instead flattens conversation to a content-only dimension (Young & Christian, 2011). This may be why we are so shocked to hear about the new movie Her, where the main character (Figure 3) develops feelings for a piece of software (Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013).
Artificial intelligence is a fascinating window into what it means to be human. It pressures us to be ourselves, because its own evident flaws are the traits that we as humans should emphasize and develop. It preserves the importance of the art of conversation, while also providing encouragement for human innovation and intellect. The inventors of the computer may have realized its uncanny resemblance to the human brain, but likely never anticipated the lessons that it would teach about this remarkable organ.
Sources:
Allen, C., 2010. Animal Consciousness. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available at: <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consciousness-animal/> [Accessed January 18, 2014].
Carpenter, R., 2011. Cleverbot. Available at: <http://www.cleverbot.com/> [Accessed January 17, 2014].
IMDb, 2013. Her (2013). Available at: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/> [Accessed January 16, 2014].
Kallem, S.R., 2012. Artificial Intelligence Algorithms. Journal of Computer Engineering, 6(3).
Patel, A., 2013. Introduction to A*. Available at: <http://theory.stanford.edu/~amitp/GameProgramming/AStarComparison.html> [Accessed January 20, 2014].
University of Toronto Psychology, 1999. The Turing Test. Available at: <http://psych.utoronto.ca/users/reingold/courses/ai/turing.html> [Accessed January 15, 2014].
Young, N. & Christian, B., 2011. “The Most Human Human” with author Brian Christian (Full Interview). Available at: <http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Technology+and+Science/Audio/ID/1963593842/?page=20&sort=MostPopular> [Accessed January 14, 2014].
Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013. Her – Official Trailer 1 [HD]. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsQqMwacZQw> [Accessed January 16, 2014].