Wednesday, February 16, 2011

T, 5:40pm

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry professor, I still do not think of Watson as “knowing” language. Although I must say that I am pretty impressed with the way the computer worked on Jeopardy. However, I still view it as a upgraded version of Bing. Information is still being uploaded into the machine so how can one view Watson as knowing language. I understand that deaf people use sign language and the blind use braille so one can argue that that is the same as information being uploaded.. But I believe language is more than just answering questions with information with information that has been stored in your memory.
So I have a question for you. If Watson reads a book, could he tell me what the book was about without using direct quotes from the book?

Andrea Bingham

Unknown said...

If a computer can replace me at work while I go on my eternal vacation I would have to say that I would love the idea of an intelligent robot. I don’t know how much longer it is going to take for us to really build a computer of that kind but as far as my understanding goes, I think a computer would always have to relay on us humans no matter what. Since humans are the only ones who can decide what information or programs we are going to use in those computer operative systems. We would be the only ones to be able to turn these robots on and off. I cannot even picture a robot doing everything on its own, having feelings and understanding language the way we do or even think everything they need to do without us giving them the order of execution. If that ever happens, I would be really scared because that means computers would take over humanity and eventually because we are less smarter and slower than them. They are we would cease to exist.
Diana Hernandez
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Unknown said...

A.I intelligence has come a long way. Watson is the perfect example. The way that this computer can differentiate what the question is asking is an amazing accomplishment. Regardless of all that’s been achieved we are a long way from creating an A.I. that can achieve human understanding. With the creation of Watson the possibilities seem to be there but I’m not sure it will happen any time soon. In the jeopardy game Watson showed great understanding of the question being asked most of the time. The way that he chooses what the best answer is for the question asked is very similar to the way human beings choose. I’m looking forward to seeing what changes are coming in the future.
Lazaro Garcia

Markcalls Isidor said...

It seems to me that everywhere you go robots are replacing humans in every job market. I don't believe in these type of new technologies of robots, because everyone seems to forget that these robots are replacing our daily jobs. Watson is the highest form of artificial intelligence I have ever seen, but I don't think that it literally knows language. In my opinion Watson only understands the information that has been input into him. Like my fellow classmate Andrea asked in her post "If Watson reads a book, could he tell me what the book was about without using direct quotes from the book?"

Waking Obas said...

I must say that I don’t find Watson that impressive, maybe if it was 20 years ago. Although I see this as a sign of progress I just think we should be further than were we are. We in 2010 for a computer to be that massive (talking about the physical aspect of the computer) just to match or just barely surpass the intellect of a jeopardy player is not that impressive to me. Truth one may say I have to high of an expectation, however who can say I’m to blame; I grew up with movie with spaceship, artificial intelligence, aliens etc… leading me to think by now we would have flying car and cyborg walking among us. The 70’s to the 90s imagination was running while one could said the sky was the limit at the rate we were going. In the past 10 to 15 I’ve seen nothing but newer version of existing technology.

alexander barreira said...
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alexander barreira said...

In my opinion, there won’t be anything that gets the place of a human brain. Watson, if you keep putting information into it, it is going to get bigger every day and how noise is this machine. Humans on the other hand, one can keep a lifetime learning that it does not take space in the brain. Also, I still think that the brain is faster than any computer even faster of the speed light. I don’t think that robots can get the ideas of humans get of sense of knowledge or wisdom. Watson knows all of this information because they are putting this information in it but when Watson is fifty years old, it is going to be almost a building or something else which is the different from humans.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the A.I. intelligence has advanced a lot. The problem I see with Watson is treating other human beings and how to feel anything and interact with each other. Also Watson has an issue with deducting; for example when one of the contestants said a wrong answer, Watson repeated again the same wrong answer. Beside that little issue I believe that Watson would be able to defeat any human being that challenge him because he can obviously process and store more information than the portion of human brain that we currently use to process information on a daily basis

Anonymous said...

I think Watson is a very impressive machine. I noticed that before Watson played Jeopardy with the two best players of Jeopardy, it had practiced before-hand and wasn’t very good at the game. As Watson plays throughout the game it comprehended most of the subjects well. One thing I noticed was that Brad had said an answer and Watson repeated it. I think that because Watson is a machine it isn’t self-aware because if you asked another person he or she would have said a different answer, he wouldn’t say the same thing. At least, that’s what I believe. I believe that technology has become not only advanced but also very complex.

-Norma Zeron

Christopher said...

I see Watson as Wikipedia expert. he already has th information in his hard drive, no lets say that he gets asked something that just happen today he would not have any knowledge of it and would not answer. It's impressive that he understands and is able to find the best answers in a short time if he has the knowledge. I see that in the future he will definitely be able to learn on his own and it will definitely be by trial and error, most likely our errors. I would like to see in the future if i ask Watson a question by voice and if he would be able to understand it as if it was a text message and would he be able to give me his own opinion?
Christopher Paulino T 5:40

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Infamous Mr.Moo said...

I believe my fellow classmates are right. The computer is only able to respond with preset sentences and quotes, it does not have the capability to read a book and decipher it's meaning, or understand subtext. The ability to regurgitate ideas is the only reason the computer is more effective than a human brain. It's still a mystery as to how the brain recalls information and why it fails to recall certain things. It seems that both humans and computers alike have their fair share of shortcomings. The only difference is, humans are necessary to create computers and although they can enhance us physically and even aid in thr creation of a human, a computer could never completely create one.

Benny Salas said...

Professor:
Watson is flat out cool and truly amazing! Im not sure as to how to comment on Watson, but does this type of technology produced by IBM the way of the future and a gigantic step for A.I., YES! Because it can't understand language, emotions or expression, Watson will be limited by such abilities, but it can still serve a great function in our society.

I look forward to what IBM does with Watson, and produce such dynamic products that can help the consumer in an effective way.

Anonymous said...

Eduardo Duran,

If the day comes that a computer can completely replace people at jobs, then no one would have jobs. Except the people who build and program those computers or robots. So that should concern some people. A.I has come along way. It is amazing at what technology in general can do in the present day. I also must say that I find it amazing that Watson beat those contestants at jeopardy but i also must agree with Andrea Bingham. I do not think the computer "knows" language because as she said, if watson reads a book, would it be able to tell me what the book was about without using direct quotes from the book? I do not think so.

Shondra Miller said...

Watson is quite impressive but as many others stated I don’t think a form of A.I can replace the human brain. Would Watson have knowledge better the language of events that occur in recent time? I doubt! It is humans that are inputting the knowledge into Watson for it to function as it functions. However, in years’ time there will more Watsons to come. Soon the world will be run by Watson alike. Right now on my job and many other jobs computers are taking the place of humans. It seems as if the world is going paperless and more evolving into A.I.

Anonymous said...

It's pretty interesting to see what Watson is capable of. It's also just as interesting to see what he isn't capable of. It really puts in perspective what we take for granted. Our brain is able to do so many complicated and complex things and it fits in our skulls. In contrast, Watson is so large that he takes up a whole room. And after watching the abilities that Watson can perfrom, I am impressed. But mostly I am impressed with the potential of the human mind.
If we are able to create an A.I. that can mirror our own brains capabilities, then we will become gods. Watson is a clear indication that we are reaching that claim.

-Adrian Garcia

Mario Salas said...

I do admire Watson for what it is capable of, but I still think, Watson, is a long way off from “knowing” language. I have grown up playing video games of all types and as a result I have been witness to A.I.’s slow and steady rise. I agree that Watson is in another league, but it can’t reason or be reasoned with. It is not self aware, and surely is not self preserving. No doubt that the algorithms it employs are sophisticated, but it is very apparent that it’s derivative is a glorified search engine. If I asked Watson what it’s favorite quote was, and Watson genuinely replied with the reason “why” it’s his favorite, well my friends, that would be amazing. But that is still science fiction for now.

Agape said...

The fact that Watson can operate so accurately and fast, I think is absolutely amazing. I know it was created by humans and feed all the data by them as well, but that does not take away the fact for me that this machine is the closest ever a computer has come to "reasoning" and selection. Although I am excited about this new technology and its possible outcomes, I have to admit that it scares me. What else would be robots like this be capable of doing in the future? I know that if something can be used for good it can also be used for wrongdoing (cannot help but to think about atomic energy, for example) On the other hand, as the video shows, Watson can be helpful (and a life saver) when it comes to medicine. I think we would be able, not only to diagnose better, but also even find cures to diseases thanks to Watson. In addition, I believe it can be vital when it comes to decision making in world affairs, in which to have quick accurate access to large quantities of facts and information about friends and/or allies can be the difference between a good strategic plan or a bad one.
I guess will see what Watson really is capable of in the future.

Maria Nieves

Agape said...

The fact that Watson can operate so accurately and fast, I think is absolutely amazing. I know it was created by humans and feed all the data by them as well, but that does not take away the fact for me that this machine is the closest ever a computer has come to "reasoning" and selection. Although I am excited about this new technology and its possible outcomes, I have to admit that it scares me. What else would be robots like this be capable of doing in the future? I know that if something can be used for good it can also be used for wrongdoing (cannot help but to think about atomic energy, for example) On the other hand, as the video shows, Watson can be helpful (and a life saver) when it comes to medicine. I think we would be able, not only to diagnose better, but also even find cures to diseases thanks to Watson. In addition, I believe it can be vital when it comes to decision making in world affairs, in which to have quick accurate access to large quantities of facts and information about friends and/or allies can be the difference between a good strategic plan or a bad one.
I guess will see what Watson really is capable of in the future. Hopefully, it will stay away the wrong hands.

Maria Nieves

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Since I can remember technology has come a long way and computers can now do almost anything a human can, except feel and actually think for themselves. Although Watson is an incredible step in the world I have not seen a computer yet who has sentiments and thoughts like a human does. One can argue that Watson may know every definition and quote known to mankind but one cannot argue that a computer can actually interpret or describe something or someone in their “own” words like a human can. Functionalism defines mental states being functional states but what type of mental state can a computer have without having a human upload information in it. I always thought the mind was what was responsible for ones thoughts or feelings and as far as I am concerned no one ever inserted or uploaded information onto my brain and made me think the way I do, after years I learned on my own. How can a computer have a mind when they can’t feel nor can they actually think, computers information is based on actual facts not opinion nor experience.

Debra Roberts said...

I find it fascinating how computers have advanced over the years. The fact that a computer can some how understand Language shows we have come a long way. With Watson we have opened many doors to new technology starting of in the medical field. Of course a computer will never be able to replace physician, the human mind is incredible as it is but having a computer examine you and tell you exactly whats wrong with you would be absolutely incredible. Not only will that be a breakthrough in technology but in medicine itself. As you could have seen Watson has its flaws still understanding things, but with more work it could be the beginning of great accomplishments.

NubiaG. said...

While Watson is an advancement in almost every area of science, we have to keep in mind that it is very far from emulating human and reasoning. Watson, simply stated, functions by word association; connecting one word with another until an answer has been conjured. While it it understood that the human "train of thought" is essentially the same mechanism, we process information that has been experienced by us, not fed or downloading into our central processing systems. Watson is undeniably an irrefutable contribution to science and technology, and its uses are innumerable, but it falls short compared to the human mind; except on speed, it definitely beats humans on speed.

Adam Busshaus said...

While Watson is an impressive jeopardy contestant, the future implications of its use are even more substantial. Computers like Watson could be used in diagnosing human health conditions which could essentially eliminate the possibility of human error in diagnosis. I wonder what IBM's intent was when designing Watson or what they will use Watson for once it is done playing Jeopardy. It would be interesting to know what the actual use of Watson will be in the future.

Catherine Murillo said...

Although I’m not an I.T. specialist, the fact that we as human can achieve such a great scientific breakthrough like Watson and Bina 48 shows that functionalism is there. We may all say that because the knowledge they currently obtained is not learned then it is not real or actual functionalism, but I do disagree. I believe that maybe we have to see farther than what is in front of us. I foresee that after a while A.I. will be able to do and more then Watson today. Bina, shared a statement that surpassed my idea of computers in general, it understood that it may be years of trial and error before she would ever be anything like that real life Bina. These machines will soon learn from error and it is not a far fetch idea. Project Watson will open more doors in both the business field and the medicine field just as the link informed; in ways that we have not thought possible.

Unknown said...

Watson a super computer created by IBM capable of understanding natural language and defeating the most important contestants in the Jeopardy contest has become an important challenge en scientific history. This machine capable of thinking for itself has the power to analyzed, managed data and expressed that information in natural language to the audience. But does this incredible computer has a mind ? In functionalist point of view “ having a mind is to have the ability perform certain functions” in the case of Watson his function is to analyzed data in accurate and speed way and presented in a natural language ( this functions can be developed in different field such as Telecommunication, financial and health). Under the functionalist theory there is no different between machines and human beings. A machine has a Software and hardware and we have a brain and the mind; in which the mind can be replaced or removed like software in a computer. However, we are not machines and our feelings govern a great part of actions. When we feel pain (mental state), we are expected to function in a certain way that reacts to that pain (functional state). Nevertheless, sometimes we react completely different to pain and feelings. That is a main difference between Computers and Human mind we have that capability the react to some circumstance in an unexpected ways without following any behavioral parameters.
Juliana Canon