X-Message-Number: 3967
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #3957 - #3963
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 18:44:34 -0800 (PST)


Hi again!

1. If we take a broad definition of nanotechnology so that it includes 
   biotechnology too, then our revival will certainly happen by nanotechnology.
   But many here seem to take a much narrower view, and I agree that such a
   narrower view may exclude the technology most likely to revive us soonest.
   As it stands now, we can actually remodel viruses to do things for us, and
   no other nanotechnological device has gone that far.

   This was a message for Robert Morley.

2. Perhaps I didn't explain myself as well as I might have. The important point
   is this: focus on that experience and how it works, not on the symbols.
   Without that experience the symbols mean nothing. And we need much more to 
   have that experience than a simple ability to manipulate symbols. In fact,
   we need something of a different kind entirely. 

   A test: devise a language-learning robot which learns to use its language 
   not just in response to other language but in response to events in the
   world. What kind of processing must it do? When you first learned your
   first language, you did not start with a big dictionary. That only became
   useful once you had learned a lot of language by entirely different means.

   As for Mr. Moravec: I don't see any point in debating whether or not he 
   would happily choose such an elaborate form of suicide. If he would, I'm
   sorry for him. If not, then I guess I was right. His own past record 

   suggests to me that we should not hold our breath for artificial intelligence
   to get very far using his proposed means. And I've read one of his books,
   too. After a while I got tired of following his ideas, mainly because I
   doubted that they were worth the effort.

   This message was for Mr. Clark.

3. For Robin: we've already started using such "pieces of brains". When an 
   expert trains a neural net to (for instance) search for good shares to buy,
   that's exactly what's happening. It's not necessary to devise these neural
   nets so that they like the same foods, want to rest in front of a window
   watching the ocean, etc etc. I very much doubt that we will have to move
   over any part of our experts except the highly specialized ones --- which
   will not strike for higher pay or cause any trouble at all. 

   			Long long life (in whatever form) for all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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