Joichi Ito’s perspective on machines that think delves into several intriguing aspects:
1. AI’s Contribution to Society: Ito believes that AI and machine learning will bring significant contributions to society, particularly in areas requiring speed, accuracy, reliability, data processing, and parallel computing.
2. Educational System Paradox: He highlights the paradox of developing increasingly human-like machines while pushing humans to think and behave like computers. Ito envisions that machines will eventually replace the need for people to adopt robotic behaviors.
3. The Uncanny Valley: Ito acknowledges the challenges posed by the Uncanny Valley, where robots exhibit almost human qualities without fully achieving them. He explains that humans’ discomfort with this may stem from a sense of existential ego and the belief that humans are special.
4. Complex Ecosystem: Ito suggests that human consciousness and morality may be constructs within a larger, complex system that includes algorithms running on computers. This perspective challenges the notion of human exceptionalism.
5. The Unpredictable Outcome: He acknowledges the unpredictability of complex systems and emphasizes that, in the face of uncertainty, focusing on creativity, adaptability, and human strengths can lead to a symbiotic relationship between humans and machines.
6. Embracing Complexity: Ito posits that the world is not descending into chaos but into complexity. He encourages embracing the intricate relationships between humans, machines, and the broader environment, rejecting the idea of human exceptionalism in favor of a more humble perspective.
Overall, Ito suggests that the evolving relationship between humans and machines will be characterized by a harmonious interplay of strengths, with each contributing to the synergy of the whole.