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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2000)
Speaker looks at technology and its affect on the future , ■ Professor Doug Hofstadter discusses a transcendence of humans into artificial intelligence By Eric Pfeiffer Oregon Daily Emerald “Will Spiritual Robots Replace Humanity by 2001?” That was the question Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Indiana University Professor Doug Hofs tadter discussed during a lecture Saturday at the University. Students, faculty and commu nity members packed 100 Willamette Hall to full capacity and warmly received the visiting professor. Hofstadter’s lecture covered topics ranging from artificial in telligence to the sexual reproduc tion of silicon-based life forms. The event was hosted by the De partment of Computer and Infor mation Science as part of its 30th anniversary celebration. Hofstadter graduated from the University in 1973 with a doctor ate in physics, and he also special izes in computer science and Slavic studies. His 1979 book, “Goedel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid,” won the Pulitzer Prize for literature. Hofstadter began his lecture by discussing different scenarios in which mankind could be re placed by machines. The most probable outcome involved mankind simply becoming obso lete by its own creations, he said. “I wasn’t prepared for artificial r intelligence to arrive so quickly,” Hofstadter said. “I don’t like the idea of my children being the last generation of the human experi ence.” He also discussed whether the inevitable replacement of human ity should be thought of as extinc tion or honorable transcendence. “Many would argue that trans ferring our human values to a more advanced life form should be the most ethical form of evolu tion.” Hofstadter said. These “mind children,” as Hof stadter referred to them, would be an extension of the human experi ence, not the elimination of it. “Feelings, creativity and vision certainly aren’t limited to human beings,” he said. “I think it is quite possible, almost certain, that sili con-based life forms will possess these traits.” Although some members of the audience seemed skeptical as to whether technology could sur pass human limitations, Hofs tadter pointed to current exam ples already taking place. A prime example he used was the EMI (Experiments in Musical Intelligence) project, founded by UC-Santa Cruz Professor David Cope in 1981. EMI recreates the style of classical composers, pro ducing its own works, according to the EMI Web site. Hofstadter said that the program works by capturing styles and techniques through the use of brute-force al gorithms, a concept that does not rest easily with him. “Music is the highest of the arts to me,” he said. “It was very dis Current & Emerging Technology: -Artificial Intelligence -Artificial Life -Virtual Reality -Genetic Engineering -Robotics New Concepts: -Physical Immortality -Reserve copies of Human Memory -Cloning -DNA control Source: Doug Hofstadter, Phd turbing to see a machine recreat ing some of the greatest musical works in history.” At the conclusion of his lecture, Hofstadter left the audience with two concepts to consider. One, he said, is that it is only a matter of time before technology surpasses human capacity. “You might think these con cepts are too crazy, but it’s hap pening right in front of us,” he said. Secondly, he argued that the ability of technology to complete ly surpass the human condition will most likely be a distant occur rence. “Artificial intelligence could surpass human understanding in a limited scope,” he said. “But surpassing the full human experi ence will be much more diffi cult.” Oregon Daily Emerald. We have special university rates. Call 346-37 12 Advertise your events in the Don’t Get Trapped In A Small Apartment • Free Month Rent • 1 & 2 Bedrooms • Quiet & Large • Gas Fireplace Come check out our great specials! McKenna Air Conditioning Laundry Hookups Free Cable Balcony/Deck 342-5735 near Autzen Stadium Your LIMIT? Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage in first Body weight in pounds hour 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 CAUTION Driving Impaired 12 oz. beer _ (Not a “40 ” — A “40" is over 3 beers.) The chart is only a guide. Each person’s response to alcohol will vary, based on individual tolerance for alcohol, food intake, fatigue, and other factors. A person’s driving can sometimes be impaired after only one drink. Office of Student Life
