By Gemma Simpson, 11 September 2007 13:08
NEWS
Developments in computing will lead to "tiny and unseen systems" to help humans carry out everyday tasks - rather than Terminator-style robots - according to the British Computer Society (BCS).
BCS president Professor Nigel Shadbolt predicts that while artificial intelligence will be a large part of the future of computer science, it will not develop in the way most people may think and - instead of the killer robots - it will result in the emergence of "assistive intelligence".
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Assistive intelligence is a different kind of artificial intelligence which does not have a standalone container or personality but adapts to particular tasks and could be used in many different sorts of devices.
Shadbolt said in a statement: "These results can already be seen everywhere. Rather than conscious brains-in-a-box, as Hollywood would have it, they are in fact small pieces of adaptive and flexible software that help drive our cars, diagnose disease and provide opponents in computer games."
"This is a trend that will continue. There will be micro-intelligences all around us - systems that are very good and adaptive at particular tasks, and we will be immersed in environments stuffed full of helpful devices," he added.
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1. Jon Catt
It's true what he's saying, but there's a kind of anti-reference to what he thinks will happen with AI.
"...rather than Terminator-style robots" and then "...and provide opponents in computer games."
So the artificial intelligence which seeks us out and destroys us in computer games is NOT(???) likely to try the same thing when it's "assisting" driving my car!??! funny.
Of course the two systems could never cross over.
Ever.
It's unthinkable.