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From: ba672@lafn.org (Arthur T. Murray)
Subject: Secrets of AI
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Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 04:38:23 GMT
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You might think that you could design an artificial mind by creating
channels of input and output leading deep into the CPU of the brain,
the central processing unit where thoughts arise and self is seated.

"Aphrones anthropoi kai nepioi," said the ancient Greek poet:  Mind-
less human beings and foolish.  We, too, in Project Mentifex ("Mind-
maker") sought that Holy Grail of the inner sanctum, and we imagined
that we could search further after a slight detour to install syntax
as a superstructure controlling associative recall in consciousness:

     /^^^^^^^^^^^\ Top-down Overview; Details on WWW /^^^^^^^^^^^\
    /visual memory\           ________   abstract   /  auditory   \
   |      /--------|-------\ / syntax \  channel   |memory channel |
   |      |  recog-|nition | \________/<-----------|-------------\ |
   |   ___|___     |       |    |flush-vector      |    _______  | |
   |  / image \    |    ___V____V___  word-fetch   |   /stored \ | |
   | /traces or\<--|-->/ conceptual \--------------|->/ phonemes\| |
   | \ engrams /   |   \ mini-grids / for thinking |  \ of words/  |
   |  \_______/    |    \__________/  in language  |   \_______/   |

Afterwards we realized (and now in January of 1997 we announce here)
that there is no Camera Cognitiva, no cognitive chamber deep inside.
The channels of sensory input (and motor output -- N.B. roboticists)
lead deeper and deeper into your mind but NOT to any sort of AI CPU.
Eureka!  We must cry here in order to propagate our outlandish meme:
The mind as such exists BETWEEN your memory channels and NOT BEYOND!

