Similar to the many public predictions about the impact of the internet, some 30 years ago, this year there has been a real focus on discussions about artificial intelligence and the major changes it will bring. 

Although we call it artificial intelligence (AI), to date, AI is really just the application of “brute force” computer processing to complete more complex tasks (e.g, playing a game, or recognizing a face).

My own vision of AI, based on the science fiction stories I grew up with, was robots that were able to mimic the processes of the human mind, only with fast processing and extra memory.

Black Box

To imitate the workings of the human brain, we need to understand how it works.  Since the actual workings of the mind are currently a black box, we are limited to emulating the outcomes using the mathematical processes which drive computer operations. 

That is, we can determine the outcomes of human thinking and build a computer that is able to replicate, even improve, on these outcomes. 

However, the way the computer accomplishes this is limited to the underlying framework of computing, i.e.,  mathematics. 

The logical part of our thinking process can be translated formumatically, the emotional and intuitive part, not so much.

Learning

As the development of AI has progressed a relatively new term is emerging, “machine learning”.  This is in recognition of one of the key capabilities of our brains. 

Continuous improvement in the outcomes of thinking is not possible unless coupled with learning processes.  As with basic intelligence, for the human mind the, the mechanics of learning remains a black box. 

Imitation

The human race is certainly developing the capability to emulate/ imitate the work of the human mind but our ability to replicate the actual processes (emotional and learning) is likely something that is far in the future.