We’re still not able to produce a program or a robot that can think or act human. But we may be closer than most realize. Here’s an overview of our latest progress.
Cognitive robotics. Researchers in this discipline seek to build software that can perform complex, intuitive cognitive tasks the way humans and animals do. While nobody has built software capable of doing this in the real world, researchers have created programs that can do it in a lab.
Computational intelligence. Computationally intelligent machines recognize patterns and make predictions. Chess programs are examples of computational intelligence.
Data mining. Data mining programs sort through large amounts of data, analyze it, and pick out relevant information. Data mining programs are used in financial analysis firms, business, law enforcement, and even search engines.
Artificial brains. There are several projects in the works to build an artificial brain. One example, Project Blue Brain, seeks to create a computer simulation of the human brain down to the molecular level.
Robotics. The brain is only one part of building an artificial being. Some robots have been built that can produce a variety of facial expressions. In addition, commercial “pet” robots have been developed that simulate personality and emotions.
We’re still not able to build robots that can pass for human. But progress in robotics and in artificial intelligence is making steady gains, and companies, governments, and even individuals use aspects of it every day. It’s not unreasonable to project that artificial intelligence will continue to develop and improve until we can make a reasonable simulation of the human brain. Within a few more decades or even the next century, the science fiction stories that seem unlikely today may become everyday realities.
About the author
C Smith is sales director for on365, the Leicestershire based IT and server room solutions company for more information on server rooms visit http://www.on365.co.uk/Server-Room-Solutions.aspx
