tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post7687278617596230125..comments2024-03-29T07:50:15.957+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: The Big IssuesKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-55700646803882568682017-08-12T14:43:24.153+01:002017-08-12T14:43:24.153+01:00Dear Mr. Stirling and Paul,
Mr. Stirling, and I a...Dear Mr. Stirling and Paul,<br /><br />Mr. Stirling, and I agree with that attitude! Good fiction writers SHOULD try our many different ideas or hypotheses. <br /><br />Paul, I think Poul Anderson did that with the sophotects seen in the HARVEST OF STARS books and the AIs seen in GENESIS. Drake/Stirlin's "Center" was more like a "computer" but still very interesting, IMO.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-37981913456659276182017-08-12T10:05:58.304+01:002017-08-12T10:05:58.304+01:00Sean and Mr Stirling,
I would like sf writers who ...Sean and Mr Stirling,<br />I would like sf writers who present AIs to emphasize that they are something more of other than bigger and better computers.<br />Paul.paulshackley2017@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704115766930975286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-33048280318660973562017-08-12T09:37:07.784+01:002017-08-12T09:37:07.784+01:00Well, I write -fiction-. I'm perfectly ready ...Well, I write -fiction-. I'm perfectly ready to accept non-factual hypotheses for the purposes of a story.S.M. Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18091131550027851275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-10993138422720633182017-08-11T16:29:54.153+01:002017-08-11T16:29:54.153+01:00Dear Mr. Stirling,
At least the ping pong balls w...Dear Mr. Stirling,<br /><br />At least the ping pong balls would keep you from getting hurt after jumping into such a pool! (Smiles)<br /><br />Sometimes you have used strong AI ideas in your works. Such as Center, a "character" seen in THE GENERAL books you co-wrote with Dave Drake. But I do agree with your skepticism about such strong AI claims.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-49457172682716382172017-08-11T08:55:53.959+01:002017-08-11T08:55:53.959+01:00I'm skeptical of "strong AI" claims;...I'm skeptical of "strong AI" claims; they always prove to be absurdly over-optimistic.<br /><br />Calling the brain a computer is a metaphor, like our ancestors' habit of comparing it to a clock.<br /><br />Metaphors are useful, but you have to be careful not to literalize them.<br /><br />I like Penrose's observation that expecting consciousness out of a computer simulation is like expecting to get wet after jumping into a dry swimming pool full of ping-pong ball models of water molecules.S.M. Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18091131550027851275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-48670606926127462132017-08-11T08:54:09.842+01:002017-08-11T08:54:09.842+01:00Best wishes from here, too.Best wishes from here, too.S.M. Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18091131550027851275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-77360457729150189342017-08-08T16:12:53.424+01:002017-08-08T16:12:53.424+01:00Kaor, Paul!
I hope Andrea's test results will...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />I hope Andrea's test results will be positive, or at least show problems which can be successfully treated.<br /><br />Hmmm, but I am not sure if it will be even possible to have a conscious, self aware artifact/artificial brain without somehow using computer programs. Albeit, I'm skeptical of the entire idea!<br /><br />Sean<br />Sean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-92211942501131649872017-08-08T09:57:46.797+01:002017-08-08T09:57:46.797+01:00Andrea still has his problems but will receive som...Andrea still has his problems but will receive some medical test results today.paulshackley2017@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704115766930975286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-1285425386936641292017-08-08T09:51:54.006+01:002017-08-08T09:51:54.006+01:00Sean,
I think that a computer program is inherentl...Sean,<br />I think that a computer program is inherently unconscious and that a conscious artifact/artificial brain will be something other than a computer.<br />Paul.paulshackley2017@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704115766930975286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-5042199661590434872017-08-08T07:45:26.366+01:002017-08-08T07:45:26.366+01:00Kaor, Paul!
I hope your friend Andrea is feeling ...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />I hope your friend Andrea is feeling better!<br /><br />And of the ideas, themes, topics, etc., you listed, I find speculations about Artificial Intelligence the ones I think least likely to come true in real life. I mean intelligent, self aware, conscious, independently acting computer programs.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com