Computational and Artificial Intelligence

Question 1

What is AI?

Answer 1

the synthesis and analysis of computational agents that act intelligently

Question 2

What are the definitions of AI (Russell and Norvig, 2016)?

Answer 2

• systems that think like humans
• systems that think rationally
• systems that act like humans
• systems that act rationally

Question 3

Explain the “cognitive modelling” approach

Answer 3

definition of AI: systems that think like humans

• requires greater understanding of human cognition
• need to know how humans think (through introspection, psychological experiments, and brain imaging) in order to model human mechanisms of “intelligent thought” in a machine

Question 4

Explain the “Laws of Thought” approach

Answer 4

definition of AI: systems that think rationally
- if you can take any informal knowledge and turn it into formal notation, you should be able to solve any logical problem in logical notation

Question 5

Explain the “Turing Test” approach

Answer 5

definition of AI: systems that act like humans

- can a machine convince a human that it is a human just by its actions?

Question 6

Explain the “Rational Agent” approach

Answer 6

definition of AI: systems that act rationally
- if there is not a logically provably correct choice, correct logical inference will not work so machines need to select an action based on the best possible outcome

Question 7

Explain thinking vs acting in AI systems

Answer 7

acting only gives the impression of thinking intelligently, whereas thinking requires a conscious choice and processing themselves
does it matter if the outcome is intelligent or just the actions? (e.g. self-driving car: is it enough to just notice pedestrians and not hit them or does it need to make a conscious effort to?)

Question 8

Explain rational vs human in AI systems

Answer 8

AI decisions may be rational but not necessarily human-like (e.g. AlphaGo: rational moves for victory that humans would not choose)

Question 9

What is strong AI?

Answer 9

a machine that actually thinks

Question 10

What is weak AI?

Answer 10

a machine acting intelligently without thinking

Question 11

What is computational intelligence?

Answer 11

alternative approach to AI that is adaptive, and changes on its own depending on its environment
finding best option in uncertain situations

Question 12

Goals of AI/CI

Answer 12

• creating AI
• understanding natural intelligence
• creating intelligent solutions to problems

Question 13

What is artificial general intelligence?

Answer 13

the ultimate goal of AI – machines that can perform any function, it does not need to know how to do a task specifically but can learn how to (intelligent, whilst also adaptive and flexible)

Question 14

What are the 6 tests for intelligence?

Answer 14

• Turing Test
• Coffee Test
• Robot College Student Test
• Employment Test
• Flat Pack Furniture Test
• Mirror Test

Question 15

Turing Test

Answer 15

convince a human that you are a human not a machine

standard for AI keeps changing, e.g. modern chatbots no longer considered strong AI

Question 16

Coffee Test

Answer 16

enter a random home and use the facilities to make a coffee

intelligent traits: learning from experience, physical intelligence, flexibility/adaptability

Question 17

Robot College Student Test

Answer 17

enrol at a university and obtain a degree
(not about the tasks, but having the flexibility to deal with changing situations; also requires awareness of circumstance)

Question 18

Employment Test

Answer 18

perform as a well as a human in a job

general purpose learning systems; advocates for developing childlike machines that can learn and develop

Question 19

Flat Pack Furniture Test

Answer 19

unpack and assemble an item of flat packed furniture

problem solving and flexibility

Question 20

Mirror Test

Answer 20

machine should distinguish an object and its reflected image from a mirror
(originally designed for animals; testing self-recognition and self-awareness)

Question 21

About AI tests

Answer 21

• debate of thinking vs acting
• prioritises features of: flexibility, adaptability, self-awareness, learning, development
• measuring intelligence through human features?

Question 22

Argument against weak AI

Answer 22

can machines act intelligently?

Question 23

Dijkstra

Answer 23

does the question of whether machines can actually think matter when its actions are still successful?

Question 24

What is the Qualification Problem?

Answer 24

• human behaviour is too complex to capture as formal logic

- importance of environmentally and socially situated agents exhibiting embodied cognition, over disembodied programs

Question 25

Argument against strong AI

Answer 25

can machines actually think?

Question 26

Turing Test might only…

Answer 26

• passing Turing Test may only demonstrate simulation of thought, not actual thought
• argument from consciousness involves phenomenology (study of direct experience – “feel” emotions) and intentionality (beliefs and desires)

Question 27

Searle’s Chinese Room experiment

Answer 27

non-Chinese speaking person convincing you they understand Chinese by looking it up from a book; they don’t actually “understand” Chinese; without understanding/intentionality, the machine isn’t thinking and doesn’t have a mind so strong AI hypothesis is false

Question 28

Mind-Body Replacement

Answer 28

how can physical states also be mental states?

Question 29

Brain replacement experiment

Answer 29

replacement of microchips instead of neurons, when is it no longer a brain and a machine? (i.e. Ship of Theseus)

Question 30

What are some human biases in AI?

Answer 30

• age
• race
• gender
• status
• religion