Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Monthly Archive August 2018

Cropped shot of call center operator in headset working and talking with client
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 11, 2018
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence
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Why machines can’t think as we do

As philosopher Michael Polanyi noted, much that we know is hard to codify or automate
Denyse O'Leary
August 11, 2018
5
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence
Human life is full of these challenges. Some knowledge simply cannot be conveyed—or understood or accepted—in a propositional form. For example, a nurse counselor may see clearly that her elderly post-operative patient would thrive better in a retirement home. But she cannot just tell him so. Read More ›
hugues-de-buyer-mimeure-350387-unsplash
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 9, 2018
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged

Why Can’t Machines Learn Simple Tasks?

They can learn to play chess more easily than to walk
Denyse O'Leary
August 9, 2018
4
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind
If specifically human intelligence is related to consciousness, the robotics engineers might best leave consciousness out of their goals for their products and focus on more tangible ones. Read More ›
Two Retro Tin Robot on a White Background
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 8, 2018
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Social Factors
Tagged
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The New Politically Correct Chatbot Was Worse?

If you are a human being who talks to people for a living, don’t quit your job
Denyse O'Leary
August 8, 2018
8
Artificial Intelligence, Social Factors
Within 16 hours, the Microsoft team had to shut down their chatbot Tay. With assistance from so many online sources, Tay’s ability to be nasty exceeded that of any individual human. And as for her replacement, Zo, who would never repeat those mistakes… Read More ›
Conceptual image of a large stone in the shape of the human brain
The young and conceptual image of a large stone in the shape of the human brain
Type
post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
August 7, 2018
Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
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The Brain Is Not a “Meat Computer”

Dramatic recoveries from brain injury highlight the difference
Michael Egnor
August 7, 2018
6
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

The brain looks like a computer only if we analyze it as if it were a computer. Our analysis does not mean that it is a computer, and it does not mean that computation explains the mind or even that computational approaches to neuroscience provide genuinely meaningful insight into neurophysiology.

Read More ›
Bitcoin gold coin. Cryptocurrency concept.
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 6, 2018
Categorized
Business and Finance
Tagged
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A Wallet You Can’t Feel?

Will Bitcoin change the rituals around money?
Denyse O'Leary
August 6, 2018
2
Business and Finance

It’s tempting to assume that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin will succeed because social media did. But digital doesn’t mean magic. Cryptocurrencies will work if the needs met are more significant to most people than the problems created are.

Read More ›
MRI brain : Brain tumor at right parietal lobe
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 5, 2018
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Natural Intelligence, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
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Boy loses large hunk of brain

And is “doing just fine”
Denyse O'Leary
August 5, 2018
3
Medicine and Health, Natural Intelligence, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
When pundits talk glibly of creating artificial minds or claim that consciousness is an illusion, it might help to remember that few predicted cases like this could exist and few thought that high tech diagnostics would lead to their discovery. Read More ›
Brain research or diagnostic on the digital model in virtual reality. 3d illustration.
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
August 4, 2018
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Social Factors
Tagged
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AI That Can Read Minds?

Deconstructing AI hype
Robert J. Marks
August 4, 2018
5
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Social Factors

The source for the claims seems to be a 2018 journal paper, "Real-time classification of auditory sentences using evoked cortical activity in humans." The carefully described results are indeed significant but what the Daily Mail article didn't tell you sheds a rather different light on the AI mind reader.

Read More ›
andre-francois-557624-unsplash
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
August 3, 2018
Categorized
Applied Intelligence, Social Factors
Tagged
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Is Bitcoin Safe?

Why the human side of security is critical
Jonathan Bartlett
August 3, 2018
9
Applied Intelligence, Social Factors

Bitcoin solves a lot of tough problems in very ingenious ways. Unfortunately, however, those benefits don’t tend to translate well for end users, who are not nearly as ingenious as the people developing the system.

Read More ›
natanael-melchor-465383-unsplash
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 2, 2018
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Social Factors
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Claim: Yes, you can upload your brain

Fine print: They might have to kill you first
Denyse O'Leary
August 2, 2018
5
Artificial Intelligence, Social Factors
In a recent piece, we looked at cognitive scientist Susan Schneider’s explanation as to why we couldn’t cheat death by uploading our minds to the internet. But some have made a career of marketing the idea Read More ›