Summary
Hubert Dreyfus argues that human intuition and perception are fundamental aspects of consciousness that computers cannot replicate. He critiques the artificial intelligence establishment, asserting that its current research program is flawed because it fails to account for the embodied and social nature of human intelligence. To achieve human-like intelligence in a device, Dreyfus contends, would necessitate a human-like existence in the world, including a physical body and social acculturation. This perspective explains the practical difficulties encountered when trying to implement artificial intelligence algorithms.
Readers of "Mind Over Machine" will understand why Dreyfus believes current AI approaches are insufficient for replicating human intelligence. The book posits that genuine intelligence is inseparable from having a body and being part of a society, a departure from the purely computational models favored by AI researchers. This understanding offers a specific critique of artificial intelligence that highlights the importance of embodiment and social context.
Key concepts
- Human intuition and perception — Essential phenomena of consciousness that computers cannot replicate.
- Current research program [of AI] — Critiqued as fatally flawed because it ignores the necessity of embodied and social existence for human-like intelligence.
- Human-like being in the world — The requirement for a device to possess intelligence akin to humans, involving embodiment and social interaction.
- Bodies more or less like ours — The necessity of physical embodiment for achieving human-like intelligence.
- Social acculturation — The process of integration into a society, essential for developing human-like intelligence.
From the book
Description: Human intuition and perception are basic and essential phenomena of consciousness. As such, they will never be replicated by computers. This is the challenging notion of Hubert Dreyfus, Ph. D., archcritic of the artificial intelligence establishment. It's important to emphasize that he doesn't believe that AI is fundamentally impossible, only that the current research program is fatally flawed. Instead, he argues that to get a device (or devices) with human-like intelligence would require them to have a human-like being in the world, which would require them to have bodies more or less like ours, and social acculturation (i.e. a society) more or less like ours. This helps to explain the practical problems in implementing artificial intelligence algorithms.