Samuel Arbesman (What to think about machines that think)

Samuel Arbesman reflects on the potential emergence of machines that can think on par with or surpass human intelligence and how society might respond to this development.

He acknowledges that while machines may become highly intelligent, they may not exhibit self-awareness or sentience in the way humans do. Arbesman suggests that as long as humans remain on the cognitive pedestal with unique qualities of self-awareness and sentience, we may not view thinking machines as monstrous.

However, he raises the possibility that thinking machines could possess intelligence in ways fundamentally different from human thought patterns. They might excel in areas where humans struggle, such as memory and calculation, and may not be bound by human irrationalities.

Arbesman advocates for an optimistic response to the emergence of intelligent machines. He introduces the concept of “naches,” a Yiddish term signifying joy and pride, often vicarious, in the accomplishments of others. He proposes that we can experience naches when thinking machines, created by humans, achieve remarkable feats, even if we cannot fully comprehend their thought processes.

Arbesman draws parallels to how people take pride in their children’s accomplishments, even when they don’t fully understand them, and how sports fans cheer for their teams and citizens celebrate their country’s achievements. He suggests that humanity can embrace thinking machines as technological offspring, root for their successes, and feel gratitude for the advancements they bring to society, even if their inner workings remain beyond our full comprehension.

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