Computer Brains

Am I smarter than a computer? I’m not sure, probably not. When I think of “computer smarts” or what I know computers to be the most useful for, I think of completing difficult math equations, developing complex codes and giving correct directions. There is no doubt that a computer can hold and then quickly retrieve way more information than my brain. After all, as humans we have other things to worry about right? Like what to wear, does he like me, will I get this assignment in on time?

Minsky is a scientist that has devoted his career to proving that machines are equivalent to, or surpass the human brain. Not only does Minksky believe that computers can have “book smarts” but he also believes that computers can be conscious. He quotes that, “the human brain has only very limited records of what it has been doing recently. A machine could be vastly more conscious than a person.” (Beedles 120). He continues to state that it is “easy to be extremely conscious” and that just because one is conscious “doesn’t mean you would know what to do with it” (Beedles 120). What would a conscious robot do? When I think of the word conscious I think of whether someone is alive or not, not something, or a robot. However, that is not how Minsky thinks. He clearly believes that there is technology available to ensure that computers are able to perform any task requested.

How can humans create something that is “smarter” than us? Isn’t an extremely high level of intelligence necessary in order to program the desired actions of the computer technology? It can’t just seek out information on its own, someone must input the data. I’m not sure that I support the idea of technology being smarter than humans, nor do I really like to think about it. Yes, technology helps me every single day and for those convinces I am grateful; however, I like to think that I can unlock my car door without the aid of the remote. The more that humans rely on technology the “stupider” or “lazier” we become. I’ve never known a day when I actually had to check the oil on my car, instead I just wait for the light to come on my dash and then I know to get my oil changed. I just moved across the country to a new state, yet I have no need to know the main roads in the area or which was north is because I have a GPS that will tell me. I personally enjoy problem solving and learning new things, so the idea that technology may someday become so advanced that I “won’t have to think” and a computer will figure it out for me is not exciting to me. After all, computers can never come up with original ideas or be able to experience human emotion – like the intense frustration when technology fails and the GPS keeps saying “make the next available U-Turn!”