Are We Spiritual Machines?: Ray Kurzweil vs. the Critics of Strong A.I. | 
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Product Description
Computers are becoming more powerful at an ever-increasing rate, but will they ever become conscious? Artificial intelligence guru Ray Kurzweil thinks so and explains how we will "download" our software (our minds) and "upgrade" our hardware (our bodies) to become immortal -- before the dawn of the 22nd century. In this debate with his critics, including several Discovery Institute Fellows, Kurzweil defends his views and sets the stage for the central question: "What does it mean to be human?"
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Customer Reviews:
• Never Say Never Again 28 February, 2007
Critics of Kurzweil's "vision" of the future have several objections: (1) Machines will never be conscious (variety of reasons) (2) We should return to a simpler life with sickness and death as part of our humanity, (3) the data has been misinterpreted/trends can't be extrapolated and (4) previous AI claims failed OR our current technology can't perform the job therefore it can't be done. Oddly, the last is quite popular despite it's being the one most easily refutable. In 1930 we could not build a nuclear device therefore why try? In 1960 we could not "fly to the moon" therefore we never would. In 1990 we could not catalogue the human genome therefore we would forever wonder.
Our relentless drive to the unknown future is like Einstein's thought problem of riding a light beam - things appear normal to the observer. We are used to the increasing pace of technological change and can only catch limited glimpses of that future as it grows steadily nearer. We are all familiar with the rosy future of Ray vs the often gloomy and pessimistic vision of many of his detractors. Is the middle ground the answer?
Kurzweil answers his critics directly. They challenge not only his idea of a spiritual machine but also his methodology, research, interpretations and conclusions. Is a rate of change linear because exponential change is the norm? Can past predictions (failed or achieved) be a harbinger of future predictions? What does it mean to be human when one is not 100% flesh and blood? Penrose contends that the structure of the brain is the key to consciousness yet our minds emerge from matter with electronic circuits - no mystical outside force or higher power is required.
An old movie had the line that when you can't tell the difference between a machine and a human, the machine is effectively human. Does it matter if Big Blue is not "thinking" about chess yet performs so admirably? Who cares if machines turn Japanese into English without "concentrating" on it? Yet Kurzweil insists that downloading and uploading the structure of the human brain will eventually bring forth a spirit that like out own, that is a product of its material base but also separate from it.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A55MRYPUAX4QU
• Good Discussion Of Both Sides 22 February, 2007
After reading Kurzweil's books "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and part of "The Singularity is Near" I wanted to hear some critics about his theories, beacuse one side of the discussion often blurs your view of the overall issue. This book provides a good discussion of both sides about Strong AI. I still agree with Kurzweil's view, but I really liked reading how others think about it. Read this book if you've read some of Kurzweil's work before and like to hear another perspective. The book can also be used as an introduction to the field, because the first chapter is a summery of Kurzweil's theories, which he describes at full length in his books. The only downside to this book is the repetitive character of the arguments that sometimes get tiring to read.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1ATJ8UUG2AO7F
• Excellent Debate On The Future Of Ai 06 July, 2006
I thought that this book was an excellent debate on the future of AI and all the questions concerning nonbiological conciousness. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the future of AI!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2U6ULYWCXC2EO
• Could Be Worse 18 February, 2008
If I had realized this was published by the creationist Discovery Institute, I would have saved my money. Not as bad as I feared when I noticed that. Most of the arguments and claims on both sides are repetitive. Except for a few mistakes, Kurzweil's arguments much better than the "Critics" arguments. The most glaring mistake, pointed out by Searle, was his mistating/misunderstanding of the Church-Turing Thesis; it took me two minutes with my encyclopedia of mathematics to check out, but Kurzweil just repeated his mistaken claim in his rebuttal. Most of Searle's argument was pretty silly, so maybe Kurzweil never considered part of it might be right.
If you have read Age of Spiritual Machines, this is a waste of time.
If you haven't read it, it is a better source than this book. The better arguments of the critics were mostly already covered in that book. Kurzweil's initial statement in chapter 1 of this book is a much condensed version of Age of Spiritual Machines.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1Q4E0OS5PHJZI
• Great Gift For T2 Fans 24 July, 2008
I got this for my friend who is an Engineer. It has really made him begin to think about these dilemmas.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2GJLEWWZYHGTU
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