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COMPUTER INTELLIGENCE

HOW INTELLIGENT CAN A COMPUTER BE?

One of the first questions anyone asks when confronted with computers for the first time is,' can they think, will they take over the world?'

Strictly speaking, computers can only do what they are told to do. They follow instructions to the letter, never deviating, never making a mistake, or having a lapse of concentration----except when the plug is pulled. But at the same time, they never question the instructions they are required to follow unless programmed to do so.

Computers are, after all, only machines made of metal, wires and bits of silicon. However, while this is all essentially true, it is an oversimplification of the facts, and the problem of machine intelligence has exercised some of our finest scientific minds over the last 70 years.

Computers are continually getting more sophisticated. Input devies are becoming more versatile by the day!

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