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AnnB2's avatar

As a very old human, I propose that the ultimate role of any machine is to be a customizable assistant. PDAs, for example, were widely adapted because they allowed the end user to enter and track notes, details of a meeting, or contacts without the need for a secretary. At Air Products and Chemicals in the mid-1980s managers and engineers who had no interest in computing became enthusiastic users of email because it provided a time-saving alternative to phone calls and meetings. An app powered by AI or a "dog" that can go where humans cannot will have as many uses as the people who direct them. On the other hand, our Roomba regularly gets into a spot where it has to call for help.

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jazzbox35's avatar

The single most common theme related to "understanding" debate in AI is the idea of levels of understanding. Some people tend to think of understanding as a kind of absolute.

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