Smart Machines, and Why We Fear Them
By ASTRO TELLER
ITTSBURGH -- The cultural definition of artificial
intelligence -- or A.I., as it is known -- goes something
like this: "A.I. is the science of how to get machines to do the
things they do in the movies." No wonder the subject makes
some people nervous.
The popular media portray artificial intelligence as one of the
heights of human accomplishment, but also as an inevitable
catalyst for the downfall of our species. From Frankenstein
through HAL to "The Terminator," our culture enjoys
wallowing in the fear of our creations.
In the real world, we see much the same love-hate
relationship. The Internet enthralls us, but also makes us
wonder if computers are devouring our privacy and
personalities. We're fascinated by whether a computer can
beat Gary Kasparov at chess, but when it does we're deluged
with nervous commentary on what it all means.
These are the same understandable but misguided fears that,
not so long ago, induced people to burn midwives at the stake
as witches. When we fear the unknown and the new view of
ourselves that naturally accompanies knowledge, we cloud
our vision and block our path to achieving an enlightened
civilization.
The real goal of A.I. is to build devices that can perceive,
reason, learn and act at or above human performance levels.
But even that definition makes people uncomfortable. The
most prevalent argument against A.I. is similar to the popular
argument against cloning: the "don't mess with Mother
Nature" defense.
Unlike our fear of cloning, however, our discomfort with A.I.
stems from an entrenched desire in Western culture to believe
that humanity's place in the world is privileged, unique and
superior.
Recent successes in artificial intelligence clearly tend toward
intelligent aids, not ecological competitors. Cars are
beginning to drive themselves using A.I. techniques. Factories
now monitor themselves and request maintenance before
breakdowns occur. A.I. programs can act as real-time
translators, mediating phone calls between people who don't
share a language. My television uses A.I. to quiet the
commercials. Your VCR may well use it to reduce on-screen
noise when playing a worn or damaged tape.
But the question of when A.I. programs will match or exceed
human mental performance in various areas is a reasonable
one. In some arenas, the answer is "today." A.I. machines are
proving math theorems, sorting mail and putting paintbrush to
canvas like the masters.
When A.I. will clear other mental hurdles, notably
"self-awareness," is a largely subjective matter. Which is to
say that when "it" happens depends very much on what you
mean by "it." The Wright brothers' "Flyer" was a plane, even
though it was missing most features of a Boeing 747. I make
this distinction because people have a way of raising the bar
as artificial intelligence makes progress, so that they don't
have to admit that machines can be creative or intelligent.
Why is this so hard for us? I think three psychological forces
have generated our antagonistic view of an admittedly volatile
area of science:
All people are xenophobes to some extent. Evolution has,
with good reason, dictated that animals will fear the "other."
Thus we are all cautious of differences in ethnicity, gender,
social class and so on. Imagine how magnified those fears
become when a culture confronts something as potentially
alien as an artificial intelligence. Will you trust your child
with a robotic chauffeur, even knowing that, statistically, it
will get into fewer accidents than a human driver? If not, isn't
that a form of bigotry?
All people are Luddites to some extent. Who can blame them?
A Luddite fears change that threatens job security. But history
has shown us that when some jobs disappear, others are
created. The Luddite in us is often just our unwillingness to
learn the skills required to keep up. Unlike xenophobia,
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however, Ludditism is caused by misunderstanding, not
evolutionary necessity.
All people are narcissists to some extent. Five hundred years
ago, the Copernican revolution showed that Earth circles the
sun, not the converse; people became upset that their world
was no longer the physical center of the universe. Eventually,
most everyone got over it, largely because they still believed
that humans were the purpose for the universe.
Some 350 years later the Darwinian revolution undermined
that belief; the universe, instead of having been created for
Homo sapiens, actually created us, and very recently. But
many of us have recovered from that shock, too, probably
because we still believe that humans are the center of the
mental universe.
Today, A.I. threatens one of the last remaining things
separating us from the "lesser" animals. But we should have
learned by now that every time we give up a piece of our
narcissism, we profit as a species.
The Copernican revolution, unsettling as it was, taught us
about our universe. Similarly, the Darwinian revolution taught
us about our bodies.
In the same way, building intelligent machines can teach us
about our minds -- about who we are -- and those lessons will
make our world a better place. To win that knowledge, though,
our species will have to trade in another piece of its vanity.
I.
Multiple-choice
1. How do the media portray artificial intelligence?
A. the peak of human accomplishments
B. the trigger for the downfall of human species
C. the creation by extraterrestrial beings
D. both A and B
2. Why does the author quotes Frankenstein, HAL and "The Terminator?”
A. He wants to speak highly of the development of robots.
B. He intends to illustrate that artificial intelligence is the pride of human creativity.
C. He cautions the public that our attitudes toward artificial intelligence is not friendly.
D. He hopes to point out that artificial intelligence just exists in artistic creations.
3. What does the word in bold type deluged mean?
A. packed
B. soaked
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C. cheated
D. overwhelmed
4. The goals of A.I. are as follows except for
A. to create a new species of intelligent beings
B. to build devices that can perceive
C. to create machines that can reason
D. to construct robots that can learn and act
5. What is the author’s tone throughout the text?
A. subjective
B. ironic
C. emotional
D. objective
.
II.
Translating the underlined sentences.
1. The Internet enthralls us, but also makes us wonder if computers are devouring our
privacy and personalities.
2. When we fear the unknown and the new view of ourselves that naturally accompanies
knowledge, we cloud our vision and block our path to achieving an enlightened civilization.
3. When A.I. will clear other mental hurdles, notably "self-awareness," is a largely
subjective matter.
4. I make this distinction because people have a way of raising the bar as artificial
intelligence makes progress, so that they don't have to admit that machines can be creative
or intelligent.
5. To win that knowledge, though, our species will have to trade in another piece of its
vanity.
Answer
I.
DCDAD
II.
1.
互联网吸引着我们，但也让我们产生这样的疑问：电脑是否正在吞噬我们的隐
私和个性。
2.
当我们畏惧未知的事物，畏惧自然伴随着知识而来的对人类认识的新观点时，
我们却遮住了视线，挡住了通向启发智慧的文明之路。
3.
人工智能何时消除其他的心智障碍，特别是自我意识，这总的来说是主观的一
件事。
4. 我提出这样的区分是因为随着人工智能的发展，人们会提高门槛，这样一来他们
不需要承认机器具有创造力或是聪明的。
5. 为了获得那样的知识，人类将不得不用他自负的一部分用来交换。
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EDITORIAL: Is There A Smart Machine In Your Future?
by Ed Kubel Jr.
A "Robotics and Intelligent Machines for the U.S. DOE" Roadmap was created in 1998 to
identify RIM (robotics and intelligent machines) goals and the research needed to achieve
those goals by the year 2020. A national initiative called for focusing and strengthening
research in intelligent systems to strengthen the entire industry-currently, U.S. companies
lead the world in sensory devices and algorithms. Intelligent machines use advanced
sensory devices to collect information about their environment and use sophisticated
algorithms to respond to the information. The initiative to build a U.S. intelligent machines
industry stemmed from the U.S. Department of Energy's missions needs related to energy,
environment and defense. RIM science also will benefit industry and society.
Four basic technology areas of DOE-sponsored RIM research are perception, action/motion,
reasoning and integration systems. RIM R&D will require scientists and engineers from
widely cross-cutting technological disciplines including computer science, mathematics and
physics, as well as environmental, electrical and mechanical engineering. Bringing together
various segments of the robotics industry including researchers, developers, materials
experts, components and equipment suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, as well as
defense and commercial customers is the job of the Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Cooperative Council (RIMCC). The council also hopes to open new market opportunities
for producers and suppliers. Intelligent machines are expected to be an all-new
multibillion-dollar industry for the U.S.
There are concerns about whether advanced robotics and intelligent machines are a threat to
U.S. workers. The initiative is not about replacing workers, but about creating a highlearning, high-participation, high-performance workplace. Intelligent systems assist workers,
alleviating them of monotonous and strenuous work and tasks that are dangerous to their
health and safety. Also, intelligent systems allow manufacturers to integrate design with
production and to ensure on-time delivery.
...Intelligent machines can provide value to companies in all segments of manufacturing. An
important question to ask is: What can RIM help you do better? For example, high-value
consumer electronics manufacturers want intelligent production systems that can rapidly
and easily accommodate new product lines; they want intelligent systems to ensure the
manufacturability of a product line and autonomously reprogram themselves when a new
design is introduced. The auto industry, faced with fierce competition, wants systems
having human-like dexterity for assembly and materials handling. Semiconductor
manufacturers want machines that can handle large diameter wafers in each step of the
manufacturing process. Precision machine tool manufacturers want robotic systems that are
readily adaptable in a variety of applications and precise to microscopic levels of precision.
The welding industry wants an intelligent machine that will result in a repeatable,
high-quality, structurally reliable weldment. There probably is an area of your
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manufacturing process that would benefit from incorporating an intelligent machine.
They're just around the corner.
I.
Choose the right word, if possible the right form, from the following table to fill in
the blanks.
identify, intelligent, initiative, sensory, environment, perception, integration, electrical,
various, monotonous, strenuous, ensure, segment, accommodate, autonomous
1. The bank
every depositor that the financial crisis will not affect the monetary
circulation and it has adequate money reserves.
2. There are several
regions in China. Can you tell me where they are in the map?
3. Till now scientists are still searching the universe and they hope to find the traces and
feedbacks of
beings.
4. I don’t know who took the
to improve the relations with Jane. As you know Jane
is not easy to please.
5. Even some primitive creatures are equipped with
organs, so that they can probe
the world and feel differences of objects around them.
6. I just hate his
voice and sometimes I really hope that he can make a change in the
way he speaks.
7. The state government decides to take effective and immediate measures to control the
water pollution, but the damage to the
was done.
8. It is an accomplishment in the history of Europe as European nations move on the right
track for
.
9. Our gym teacher Jim is really a
person, who seems not tired at all.
10. People are complaining of the low efficiency of government, so I am wondering
whether different
can work together.
II.
Open-questions
1. What is your opinion of smart machines?
2. How do you feel when in the future a smart machine surpasses human intelligence?
3. Should we control the intelligence of robots or not?
Answer
I.
1.ensures
2.autonomous
3.intelligent
4.initiative
5.sensory
6.monotonous
7.environment
8.integration
9.strenuous
10.segment
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