At the beginning of the 1970s, computer science was still a young discipline. We marvel at the intelligence of computers and at the same time affirm the superiority of humans over machines.
Moderator Raymond Charette talks to specialists about the differences and analogies between computers and the human brain, the concept of intelligence and the potential of machines to surpass humans.
As part of the series Electronic Brains and Biological Machines broadcast on the program Atome et Galaxies on May 10, 1969, presenter Raymond Charette traveled to Europe to interview some specialists in the field.
The question of computer intelligence is nonsense, believes Gérard Dréan of IBM-France. Man can transfer part of his intelligence to the machine and imitate certain properties of his brain, but this remains limited to logical operations.
Computer scientist René Moreau identifies two characteristics that make the computer unable to reproduce the human brain and reach its intelligence. The computer doesn’t doubt – it does exactly what the human tells it, and it has no feelings.
Unlike computers, we don’t think very logically, adds Dr. W. Gray Walter of the Burden Neurological Institute in England. The human brain can make speculative comparisons, such as imagining constellations in stars, he says.
We can, if we want to, develop computers capable of beating the best humans at chess, predicts Christopher Evans, but they may not be able to do anything else. For example, they won’t be able to like pretty girls or imitate every other aspect of human behavior.
The professor in the National Physical Laboratory’s computer science department believes it might be possible to integrate the ability to experience emotions into computers, but wonders what the interest would be. Emotion is expressed through fear, love or hate. In general, I can’t imagine anyone really wanting computers to acquire this ability.
“Why bother with conscious computers? »
— A quote from Christopher Evans
The computer can never be fully autonomous, believes Gérard Dréan, director of technical operations at IBM-France. Man remains master of the inputs, of the information he supplies or not, of the behavior of the machine that he programs step by step. Then, in the event of danger, you still have the option of disconnecting the machine from the mains!
“I don’t see robots dominating the world at all. Rather, I see humans using robots to rid themselves of the boring and keep the noblest to themselves. »
— A quote from Gérard Dréan
I see only one way for computers to achieve autonomy of movement and freedom of action in addition to intelligence that would allow them to supplant the human race, explains the eminent American engineer Dean E. Woolridge. It would be that humans build them on purpose so that they can reproduce and control their energy.
“I really don’t see why people would agree to embark on this kind of adventure. »
— A quote from Dean E. Woolridge
Journalist Paul-Émile Tremblay talks to specialists about advances in computer technology and the limitations and capabilities of computers compared to humans in terms of intelligence.
Ten years later, computer technology has made great strides and the computer can be compared more closely to the human brain, of which it possesses several abilities.
On February 4, 1979, in the program Aux frontières duconnu, the journalist Paul-Émile Tremblay tried to define his limits in the company of students and experts.
Computers only replace humans for tasks that can be mechanized, believes Philippe Salzedo from the International Center for Research in Electronic Computing at the University of Paris.
“We must not imagine that the computer can replace humans in mechanisms of an intellectual nature, design and creation. »
— A quote from Philippe Salzedo
Among the human abilities that the computer can possess is memory – amazing and much safer in computers, as well as an analytical ability that allows it to make decisions.
Whether the computer can reason, Alain Colmerauer from the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Aix-Marseille gives us an overview of his research, which tries to establish a dialogue between man and machine.
“It’s hard to imagine that in the very near future you could talk to a machine about anything and have that machine reply. Asimov’s future robot is still extremely far away. »
— A quote from Alain Colmerauer
Despite major advances, the computer remains limited in terms of language learning and its ability to reason. Alain Colmerauer points out that people use such a large amount of information for their reasoning. It’s absolutely amazing!
The students interviewed by journalist Paul-Émile Tremblay don’t believe computers can really become intelligent.
The intelligence of the computer can never be complete, argues Jean, because it is characterized by several elements. The human brain has multiple senses that know how to use memory, but also language, vision, emotions, instinct, adds his colleague Stanislas.
Computing is a technique, a technology. It will be good or bad depending on what men do and the precautions they take or don’t take, warns Philippe Salzedo.
I hope that we will never delegate decisions that belong to humans to computers, Christopher Evans declared for his part in 1969. It would mean giving up human prerogative.
Journalist Alain Borgognon talks to specialists about the future of artificial intelligence and new technologies that can process masses of information.
“What to do with these billions of pieces of information? How to understand them, how to use them? No human brain can do that. »
— A quote from the journalist Alain Borgognon
In the 1990s there was no longer any doubt about the potential of the machine, as shown in this report entitled Cyberspace, the world of tomorrow, broadcast on January 21, 1996 on the program Dossier. Also, the Deep Blue computer is preparing to beat champion Garry Kasparov in chess a year ago.
Journalist Alain Borgognon tries to weigh the revolution that is underway. He explains that artificial intelligence could allow us to better manage the exponential growth of information that surrounds us.
“With artificial intelligence, it’s like implanting all the computers in the world in a human brain. »
— A quote from the journalist Alain Borgognon
With his fledgling company, Neuroagent, Khai Minh Pham is attempting to use artificial intelligence to multiply the power humans possess, giving them more freedom and time to think, create and innovate.
The neurologist and computer scientist believes that the problem is no longer who is the smartest, but how to deal with this new entity. Ethical questions may also arise when we can no longer distinguish between the behavior of humans and that of machines.
I think the more we work with computers in the context of AI, the more we will understand human wealth, says Khai Minh Pham optimistically. We will position man at his fair value in relation to all the dimensions he can generate.
For his part, the philosopher Pierre Lévy, who sees the advent of AI as a major upheaval, believes that we are now experiencing a mutation that is in some ways comparable to that of the Neolithic.
Although the basis of artificial intelligence is solid, we need to rethink our role in the different sectors of society, suggests Philippe Queau from the National Audiovisual Institute in France.
A consideration not undertaken by technocrats and computer enthusiasts denounces Paul M. Kennedy of Yale University’s Department of International Security.
In the short term, the quality of life for those who have access to a computer can be expected to improve, the historian explains. However, a gap between rich and poor is likely to widen, adding to the social isolation that these new technologies could create.
Our excerpt from the show’s dossier report gives the final say to Herbert A. Simon, a Nobel laureate in economics who is considered one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence.
“The only question a scientist can ask is whether, in the end, it is better for the human species overall to know more or to stop all research. »
— A quote from Herbert A. Simon
Reflections by three specialists on the potential of artificial intelligence, the fears it arouses and the issue of monitoring it. An account by Danny Lemieux and Jeannita Richard, narrated by host Charles Tisseyre.
In the program Découverte on September 3, 2017, Danny Lemieux and Jeannita Richard collect the thoughts of Yoshua Bengio, Yann LeCun and Geoffrey Hinton, all three active in the field of deep learning.
The three specialists talk about topics such as the labor market, the expertise to be preserved and human values, as well as the possible misuse of AI.
Does the marriage of robotics and artificial intelligence threaten employment? If artificial intelligence can be used in many fields, according to Yoshua Bengio, the lowest-paid jobs will generally suffer the most.
The director of the Institute for Learning Algorithms at the University of Montreal believes that society will be reluctant to delegate functions to AI that require humanity, such as caring for children or the elderly.
People don’t change as quickly as the technology around them, admits Yann LeCun, director of Facebook’s Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. However, he suggests that certain elements such as authenticity of communication cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.
A live jazz concert, he cites as an example, requires the communication of an emotion. What is the use of attending such an event if it is not guided by the spontaneity and improvisation of a musician in the flesh?
As for universal values, Yann LeCun also reassures that it’s people who program the computers.
We can build these machines so that they have no ambition, that they have no survival instinct, that they have no desire to become violent when they feel threatened, so that they are not disappointed when we try to take them down. he lists.
Artificial intelligence turned malicious has been exploited many times in science fiction, but this is a projection of the qualities and shortcomings of human intelligence, according to the specialists interviewed.
“It’s hard to imagine intelligence that isn’t human, but in fact, computer intelligence will be very different from human intelligence in its motivations. »
— A quote from Yann LeCun
According to Yoshua Bengio, many of our fears are unfounded, which doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be wary.
In particular, we must be vigilant when it comes to using AI to manipulate humans, who could take shape as the computer gains intelligence and acquires information about us, he argues.
We do not stop technological development. It will definitely continue, says Geoffrey Hinton, a researcher and professor at the University of Toronto’s Department of Computer Science. It must be overseen by governments, which must themselves ensure the well-being of all.
An idea shared by Yann LeCun, who draws a parallel with biotechnological research, regulated internationally from the 1970s to avoid manipulation of the human genome and other abuses.
“You have to think about that, we shouldn’t be playing with fire. You need to think hard before the problem occurs. »
— A quote from Yann LeCun
On March 29, 2023, Yoshua Bengio and thousands of tech personalities sent an open letter asking for the development of certain advanced AI systems to be temporarily suspended.
A desired moratorium to properly study the risks of chatbot systems like ChatGPT to society and humanity and develop security protocols.
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