Response to Wright

In Robert Wright’s article titled, “Can Machines Think? Maybe So, As Deep Blue’s Chess Prowless Suggests” Wright explores the debate of whether or not machines can think from a “laypeople’s” view (Wright 142). He uses the example of human verses machine by referring to Garry Kasparov’s chess match against an IBM computer. Wright points out that while this is a reasonable human verses machine matchup, what would have happened if they had tried a task that the “average human could do” such as “play a mediocre game of Trivial Persuit” (Wright 140). There Wright clearly states his opinion; computers cannot surpass human knowledge.

Wright later continues to explain that it is most difficult for computers to do “simple stuff” (Wright 141). Computers are able to play chess or perform well in any task that has specific rules or guidelines; however, take away the rigid steps or options in a task and the computer won’t know what to do. He then talks about how human emotion and responses and asked, “can computers have [a] subjective experience? “ (Wright 142) He continues to tackle this question by introducing the idea of “computer consciousness”.

Does Wright believe that machines can be conscious? No, it doesn’t seem as though he does. While he does refer to multiple other theorist’s ideas and opinions on artificial intelligence and their opinion on consciousness, he is sure to state his opinion on the matter. He even goes as far as to joke about their opinions by saying that a thermostat might have a conscious and “insert twilight music here” (Wright 146). Write proves that he’s not afraid to go “toe to toe” with even the most diehard scientist that machines are not/cannot be like humans.