ROBOT: Autonomous Mental Development by Robots and Animals

From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Fri Jan 26 2001 - 10:32:11 MST


Autonomous Mental Development by Robots and Animals
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/291/5504/599
Computational principles of autonomous mental development in humans and
the synthesis of developmental programs for robots and other artificial
systems are beginning to be actively studied. Robots that develop their
mental skills autonomously represent a fundamental change from the
traditional paradigm for constructing intelligent machines. Support for
this new field should lead to advances in science, engineering, economy,
and understanding of the mind.
[Don't worry, they mean brain, not "mind."]

It looks like autonomous robots will have the effect on middle management
that "automation" had on factory workers forty years ago. How can you tell
if you're talking to a bot instead of a bureaucrat? The robot has warmth.

Stay hungry,

--J. R.
3M TA3

Useless hypotheses: consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind,
free will



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