As more and more applications requiring a degree of autonomous decision-making are created, and as the complexity and subtlety of those decisions has increased, efforts have been made to develop “machine intelligence,” or “artificial intelligence” (AI). Philosophical and ethical issues aside, even the basic question of what intelligence is makes AI a complex and difficult aspect of computer technology. This section explores the conceptual framework, terminology, history, and current state of AI.
After completing this section, you will be able to
Chapter 15 in the textbook
You have worked hard in this course…let’s have a little fun! The topic for Unit Five, Section 3 is “Favorite Fictional Themes of Robotics and AI.” Write a brief review/description of a favourite book or movie depicting AI and/or robotics.
Being of a certain age (old, in other words), the author of this course remembers a novel called Mechasm published in the early 1960s by John Sladek, in which a team of scientists create a machine designed with only one purpose…to reproduce itself. The machine quickly evolves and adapts, learning to build variations of itself that serve different specific purposes. It then develops the ability to scavenge and salvage materials and components for all sorts of other machines to create a diverse and ever-expanding swarm of reproducing machines that threatens to wipe out humanity.
Short on scientific rationale and detail, but long on apocalyptic vision and humour, this novel represented my own personal first experience with the concept of machines taking over the world.
Updated August 26 2015 by FST Course Production Staff