AI falls short of predictions

THIS passage is from the CET-6 test of June, 2000. Read it over and try to get the correct answers to the multiple-choice question.

In the 1950s, pioneers of artificial intelligence (AI) predicted that, by the end of the century, computers would be conversing with us at work and robots would be performing our housework. But as useful as computers are, they're nowhere close to achieving anything remotely resembling these early aspirations for humanlike behavior. Never mind something as complex as conversation: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the shape of an object, the most elementary of tasks for a ten-month-old kid.

A growing group of AI researchers think they know where the field went wrong. The problem, the scientists say, is that AI has been trying to separate the highest, most abstract levels of thought, like language and mathematics, and to duplicate them with logical, step-by-step programs. A new movement in AI, on the other hand, takes a closer look at the more roundabout way in which nature came up with intelligence. Many of these researchers study evolution and natural adaptation instead of formal logic and conventional computer programs. Rather than digital computers and transistors, some want to work with brain cells and proteins. The results of these early efforts are as promising as they are peculiar, and the new nature-based AI movement is slowly but surely moving to the forefront of the field.

Imitating the brain's neural (神经的) network is a huge step in the right direction, says computer scientist and biophysicist Michael Conrad, but it still misses an important aspect of natural intelligence. "People tend to treat the brain as if it were made up of color-coded transistors," he explains. "But it's not simply a clever network of switches.

There are lots of important things going on inside the brain cells themselves." Specifically, Conrad believes that many of the brain's capabilities stem from the pattern-recognition proficiency of the individual molecules that make up each brain cell. The best way to build an artificially intelligent device, he claims, would be to build it around the same sort of molecular skills.

Right now, the notion that conventional computers and software are fundamentally incapable of matching the processes that take place in the brain remains controversial. But if it proves true, then the efforts of Conrad and his fellow AI rebels could turn out to be the only game in town.

1. The author says that the powerful computers of today ______.

A) are capable of reliably recognizing the shape of an object

B) are close to exhibiting humanlike behavior

C) are not very different in their performance from those of the 50s

D) still cannot communicate with people in a human language

2. The new trend in artificial intelligence research stems from ______.

A) the shift of the focus of study to the recognition of the shapes of objects

B) the belief that human intelligence cannot be duplicated with logical, step-by-step programs

C) the aspirations of scientists to duplicate the intelligence of a ten-month-old child

D) the efforts made by scientists in the study of the similarities between transistors and brain cells

3. Conrad and his group of AI researchers have been making enormous efforts to ______.

A) find a roundabout way to design powerful computers

B) build a computer using a clever network of switches

C) find out how intelligence developed in nature

D) separate the highest and most abstract levels of thought

4. What's the author's opinion about the new AI movement?

A) It has created a sensation among artificial intelligence researchers but will soon die out.

B) It's a breakthrough in duplicating human thought processes.

C) It's more like a peculiar game rather than a real scientific effort.

D) It may prove to be in the right direction though nobody is sure of its future prospects.

5. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "the only game in town" (See the last line of the passage)?

A) The only approach to building an artificially intelligent computer.

B) The only way for them to win a prize in artificial intelligence research.

C) The only area worth studying in computer science.

D) The only game they would like to play in town.

Answers: D, B, C, D, A

Now let’s examine the correct answers and the errors students may commit.

This passage talks about a new trend in research in artificial intelligence.

Question 1 tests the ability to recognize important points. What does the author mean to say about the powerful computers of today in the first paragraph? He says “as useful as computers are, they’re nowhere close to achieving anything remotely resembling these early aspirations for humanlike behavior.” “These early aspirations” refers to the prediction of AI pioneers that “computers would be conversing with us at work and robots would be performing our housework.” The author continues “Never mind something as complex as conversation: the most powerful computers struggle to reliably recognize the shape of an object ...” It is thus clear that the correct answer to this question is D) (computers) still cannot communicate with people in a human language. However, only 34 per cent of the test takers got the correct answer. And 29 per cent of the test takers marked: A) (computers) are capable of reliably recognizing the shape of an object. They failed to distinguish “be capable of doing” from “struggle to do.” The former describes a state of things, while the latter refers to people’s effort or intention in doing something. C) (computers) are not very different in their performance from those of the 50s is also wrong because computers are at least more useful and more powerful than those of the 50s, though they haven’t fulfilled the predictions of the AI pioneers.

Question 2 tests the understanding of Para 2, which says “A growing group of AI researchers think they know where the field went wrong. The problem ... is that AI has been trying to separate the highest, most abstract levels of thought, like language and mathematics, ... and to duplicate them with logical, step-by-step programs. A new movement in AI ... takes a closer look at the more roundabout way in which nature came up with intelligence.” That is to say “The new trend in AI research stems from the belief that human intelligence cannot be duplicated with logical, step-by-step programs. Therefore, B) is the correct answer. But about half the test takers wrongly selected D) the efforts made by scientists in the study of the similarities between transistors and brain cells. Their fault lies in their failure to grasp the exact meaning of the above quoted sentences. Besides, they did not understand the sentence “Rather than digital computers and transistors, some want to work with brain cells and proteins.” The sentence pattern is “some want to work with brain cells ... rather than ...” They did not recognize the inversion. Brain cells and transistors are not things of the same category, let alone have any similarities.

Question 3 tests the ability to make generalizations. Para 2 says “A new movement in AI ... takes a closer look at the more roundabout way in which nature came up with intelligence. Many of these researchers study evolution and natural adaptation instead of ...” In Para 3, Conrad explains “it’s (the brain is) not simply a clever network of switches. There are lots of important things going on inside the brain cells themselves.” It is thus clear that “Conrad and his group of AI researchers have been making enormous efforts to find out how intelligence developed in nature.” C) is the correct answer. However, more than half the test takers missed the point of the above quoted sentences. Their selections were nothing but groundless guessing.

Question 4 tests the understanding of the author’s opinion about the new AI movement. The last sentence of Para 2 plus the first sentence of Para 3 apparently show that the author holds an affirmative attitude towards the new trend, though he also admits that “the notion ... remains controversial right now.” (See the last para) Therefore, the correct answer to the question is D) It may prove to be in the right direction though nobody is sure of its future prospects.

Question 5 is a local question. It tests the understanding of a specific sentence, i.e. the last sentence. “The only game in town” is a phrase meaning that something is the only possible course of action or choice. Even if you don’t know the phrase, you should be able to understand it through the context. The correct answer is A) The only approach to building an artificial intelligent computer. About 55 per cent of the test takers got the correct answer.