Would a "Meat Machine" AI be useless?

[BenBurch]

A "Meat Machine" is usually defined as an artificial intelligence constructed of physical or simulated artificial neurons or neuristors* which is modelled closely on the human brain and which would have the capabilities of a human brain.

My question is, what use is it?

You usually build machines for a purpose, and expect machines to perform that task endlessly barring destruction.

But you know, if we model it on humans, that is very unlikely!

Why would it WANT to perform its tasks?

And even if we could FORCE it to, would that even be remotely ethical?

Also, at least in fiction, we usually want AIs to do things beyond the limits of human intelligence, and a "meat machine" is anything except that.

Comments welcome, as always!

-Ben


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* A word I believe I coined; http://groups.google.com/group/comp..._frm/thread/a580cfb660ab04ef/5a2e1526f0f35cff

 

[XBoxWarrior]

A "Meat Machine" is usually defined as an artificial intelligence constructed of physical or simulated artificial neurons or neuristors* which is modelled closely on the human brain and which would have the capabilities of a human brain.

My question is, what use is it?

Maybe it could help me pay my bills? or taxes, or get me Hot Dates?

But then if it was "modeled" after my brain it probably wouldn't be any help?

 

[quarky]

Haven't we already succeeded at this?

(must go to my menial job now, and consume mindlessly)

 

[athon]

It does introduce an interesting ethical dilemma. We'd like to have a working simulated model of a human mind on which we could experiment, such as with various drugs or therapies. The more exact this model, the better the predictions it could make.

However, the closer this model's functioning comes to that of an actual mind, reaching the point where it can effectively pass the Turing test, can it be said that there is an ethical criteria met? Is there an ethical difference between 'simulates human self-awareness' and 'presents human self-awareness'? Is it subject to the same rights as a human?

Personally I don't think we can provide answers to these until we cross that bridge. It's ethical evolution (for want of a better term). Much like stem cell applications and cloning will reach that level, as will genetic engineering...just as organ transplants and IVF have already evolved in terms of becoming ethically accepted...we will come to an ethical conclusion on the rights of AI when the technology presents itself.

Until then it belongs to the realm of science fiction. Which is always a prime place to discuss such things.

Athon