Sunday, July 25, 2004

I watched I, Robot and I liked it very much. I liked it because, like A.I., it made me wonder: Does being human require an inexplicable connection between the mind and the soul? Is the mind/soul a free spirit of sorts, driven by unforseen forces for which we will never be able to replicate or even come close to understanding/explaining? Or is the mind a computational device, and if so, what is the soul then? And if the mind is computational device, how would/could a robot evolve, thereby possessing thought, free-will, personality, and the other ingredients, often collectively known as being human?

Let's just take a look at how an otherwise purely computation device would ever be able to become a mind. Let's take for example that:

1) The artificial intelligence of Robot A is built upon 10 equations.

2) All actions/output of Robot A stems from these 10 equations.

3) Only these 10 equations exists in the artificial intelligence of Robot A, hence all potential and possible outputs of Robot A has been foreseen.

I am no computer expert, I can hardly rid my computer of advert bugs. But I reckon this is an extremely simplified version of how an A.I. is actually built, taking that it works like a computer program. For simplicity's sake, let's say that this is true. Thus, if all output of an A.I. is based solely on its base equations, then all output would be easily predicted by the inventors of the A.I. How then would an A.I. be able to evolve without the inventors foreseeing such an event, such as in the case of I, Robot? (although actually in I, Robot the evolution was foreseen, just not heeded. OH! Pardon me, those who haven't seen it! My thousand apologies!! *kowtows*)

Well, simple...provided my premise is correct. Evolution of an A.I., in my opinion, would only be possible if an unforseen 11th equation arises. Perhaps arising through some interaction between the 10 equations (which if the inventors did not forsee would mean that they are perhaps not as good mathematicians as they perhaps thought they were), or perhaps triggered by an external stimulus that cause the A.I. to stumble upon an 11th equation...whichever, is not my focus at the moment. Right now, I'm not concerned with how they might stumble upon the 11th equation. Eniwae, taking into consideration the roles of nanobots in robots as that of connectors or in other words, calculators of sorts, upon stumbling upon the 11th equation, there will lie 2 possible outcomes:

1) the robot will cease to function or respond to the alien stimulus, or ignore the 11th equation, or

2) the nanobots, or other A.I. drivers, will be able to calculate the result of the 11th equation, hence providing new output.

If the second outcome is taken, then inculcating the nanobots from this 'evolved' robot into another will produce a more intelligient robot. This evolution will then continue onward provided:

1) the highest levels of nanobots is always incorporated into newer robots

2) we assume that there is some sort of a 'calculator' in the A.I. (in this example, the nanobots are assumed to have this role)

3) we are unable to forsee all possible '11th equations' and put a cap on it.


I am just ranting and this 'theory' is far from being well-thought out. It occurred to me as Blossom and I were waiting for the Roulette tables to turn in our favour. I don't think its that simple. What have I not taken into consideration? What have I understood and what have I misunderstod? What other possibilities are there? ....*ponder*.... you know, by the time an idea sets in, I've no more energy left to spend testing it.

As you can see, I have too much time on my hands. But if I ever figure this out, I don't need a Nobel prize. Just gimme a job that pays 5 figures a month for me to sit around and churn out one nonsensical idea after another! :D



Or give me a castle in the clouds and make me a Lunar Changeling!

black llucii at 4:13:00 am