9/3/14
AI Chapter 1 Assignment
Questions for Discussion
James DeJong
CSC 416 Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 1 discussed a lot of broad topics and was used more as an introduction into the world
of Artificial Intelligence. The Turing test was discussed along with strong and weak AI. Most of
the topics discussed here will be brought up later in the text in more detail. The part I found to
be the most interesting was when games and AI were discussed mostly regarding chess.
1.) How would you define Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence is an area of CS that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like
they have some form of intelligence. In this chapter both human and animal intelligence were
discussed and I feel that both should be included in the definition for AI. Artificial Intelligence
is about mimicking some form of intelligence through a medium like a machine.
2.) Distinguish between strong and weak AI.
Weak AI measures the success of a system that was built based on the success of the system
alone. The background of the system is not examined just as long as the task is completed.
Strong AI on the other hand is concerned with the structure of the system that has been built.
One example used in the text was about mimicking hearing; Weak AI would only be concerned
with is the system able to mimic the sense of hearing while strong AI would be concerned with
how the system mimics the organelles involved with hearing.
4.) What was Alan Turing’s significant contribution to Artificial Intelligence?
Alan Turing had a lot of significance in the field of Artificial Intelligence but his most
important contribution was the Turing Test. The Turing Test is an imitation game in which a
person is in a room with a curtain that separates them from a machine and a person. The
interrogator asks a serious of questions and has to determine whether they are communicating
with a machine or a person. If the machine successfully deceives the interrogator then it has
passed the Turing test and is considered to be intelligent. Currently there has been no computer
system to ever pass the Turing test.
7.) Why is medical diagnosis a very typical suitable domain for AI research?
Medical diagnosis is a very suitable domain for AI research because it is a field that holds a lot
of human expertise and there are many rules. When diagnosing a medical condition it mostly
consists of problems that are IF condition THEN treatment. Expert systems are a key tool in
medical diagnosis because there are so many rules that it is very difficult for a single human to
hold in their head at one time. Although an expert system would not determine a definite
diagnosis it certainly does provide a point in the right direction and can do so with a high
degree of certainty.
9.) Explain the role of computer chess with regard to AI.
Computer chess is a logic game that has had a huge impact in regards to AI. Chess is a game
that has always been associated as a game that requires high intelligence to play and has been
used as a proving ground for AI systems. Chess has been used by Artificial Intelligence systems
to gain recognition throughout the world and to keep the field moving forward.
Exercises
1.)A variation of the Turing test is the so-called Inverted Turing test; in this test, a computer
must determine whether it is dealing with a person or another computer is. Can you envision
any practical applications for this version of the Turing test?
The Inverted Turing Test is something that has a niche but is still a very useful test. One
application that comes to mind when disusing this test would be security software. In such a
case determining whether a computer is discussing with a computer or a human would be to
determine whether the system is being maliciously attacked by another system or if a human is
attempting to just misuse the system. Facial recognition systems would need to not be deceived
by fake pictures taken from the web. Firewalls would need to be able to differentiate a software
trying to brute force their way through and a humans tactical thinking in order to determine
which is best to prevent a breach.
3.)Many people consider the use of language as a necessary attribute of intelligence. Koko is a
gorilla trained by Dr. Francine Patterson of Stanford University in the use of American Sign
Language. Koko was able to form word combinations for words unknown to her; for example,
she represented the word ring by the words bracelet and finger, which she already knew. Does
this gorilla’s possession of knowledge modify your thinking on the subject of animal
intelligence? If so, then in what ways? Could you envision an intelligence test for Koko?
Koko's possession of knowledge is something that does modify my thinking of animal
intelligence, the ability to improvise with her known knowledge to develop new words is
something of learning and improvisation. Being able to craft new words and develop a larger
vocabulary on your own is something that has been reserved to humans and having an animal
be able to do such a feat is astounding. An intelligence test for Koko would have to involve not
only normal America Sign Language words but also objects with a more complex meaning then
just a single signing in order to tests Koko's ability to think and reason and not just acquired
knowledge.
8.) Suggest a heuristic that would help to hail a taxi on a visit to New York City (or any other
major city) during rush hour when taxis are scarce.
If hailing a cab in the normal manner does not work, try moving to a busier street of town. Cabs
are more likely to be driving where there is more business. If it is New York City in particular
5th ave is busy in the morning and for the afternoon Clinton Street is a hot spot to hail a cab.
9.) What heuristic do lions employ as they pursue their prey?
When stalking prey, be quiet and sneak from brush to brush and when close enough burst in
with enough speed to startle and stun the prey. If spotting during this process pretend like you
were not hunting the target.
14.) Listen to the song “Are We Human or Are We Dancer?” by Killers. What do you believe
the lyrics of this song mean, and how do they relate to our course of study? You might wish to
consult the lively online discussion.
The lyrics to this song have a lot of complexity behind them overall and have a huge relation
towards Artificial Intelligence. One of the best answers I came across that made me think a lot
about the song said that the “Are we human” lyric poses the question do we have feelings or
emotions to be compassionate' as opposed to the other side which asks “are we dancers” which
means or are we just caught up in the music without a thought for others near or afar. Similarly
dancers can be turned into a metaphor of sort to have the deeper meaning of following leads
and routines which when paired with the lyrics “cut the chord” and “you've gotta let me go”
can in turn be talking about Artificial Intelligence in the aspect of how are we as a society
turning more into a robotic and artificial society.