Re: AI in FT (was Re: Be gentle...)

On Sun, 13 Jul 1997, Allan Goodall wrote:

> Why? Why doesn't the AI have an imagination? This has been a staple
for
> years of SF (most recently with Data in Star Trek). There is an
assumption
> that "true" biological intelligence is capable of imagination and
random,
> unpredictable behaviour but that you won't get this if you build an
> intelligence artificially.
> My belief is that the human brain can eventually be duplicated (and
even
> surpassed) through electronic engineering or biomechanical
engineering. At
> that point, we'll have an artificially constructed intelligence that
can
> think, learn, and have an imagination.

Okay this can be true.	But I'm just wondering why you'd send this kind
of
intelligent machine into battle and have them fight for you.  That'll
amount to slavery of sentient beings.  (besides, if I AM a big starship
with lots of powerful weapons, would I listen to some bozo telling me to
kill myself fighting enemies?)

> However, it should be possible to build a massively parallel
artificial mind
> that can behave logically, and intuitively, and FASTER than a human.

This is a way *cool* idea.  So do you actually work in the AI field? 
Just
wondering...  But then again, how well would something like this handle
damage in combat?  What happens to a human brain if all of a sudden, a
piece of it got wacked off?  Automated repair systems?	BTW, according
to
Murphy's Law, that'll be the first system that gets damaged.