Science & Code

• Felix May 20, 2009

  Fail-proof turing test

  General

  Abstract

  We propose a new solution to the AI-determination problem, which asks whether a given computational entitiy exhibits human-like intelligence. Previous approaches where either based on a behavioral paradigm [1] or recognition by another intelligence (e.h. a human) [2]. While the former has drawn criticism for including non-intelligent mechanism, like the famous “chinese room”, the latter seems to actually exclude some human beings [3,4]. We therefore propose a novel, fail-proof Turing test that we claim solves these problems:  A computational mechanism is assumed to be conscious on a human level if and only if it can get wasted, like, really wasted.

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• Felix May 13, 2009

  Computer Science?

  Science

  We named our blog Science & Code for a reason (and I am not talking about the first name initially proposed by Michael): it captures the big ambivalence of our field of study. Many scientists do not regard Computer Science as a science but an engineering discipline — something I can only partly disagree with but which I nevertheless oppose strongly. The beauty of our field lies in its diversity, it affects about every scientific, economical or medical field there is. But this very diversity also makes it virtually impossible to convey a coherent picture of Computer Science, something we all know from trying to tell our family/friends what we are actually doing (my short answer to that is usually: “Math.”, but that is again only partly right).

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• Felix May 7, 2009

  Do you feel offended, Punk?

  General

  7:20 is my absolute favorite: “Are you offended by the photos of the priest with a women on the beach?”
  Yes, do you feel offended by a couple of adult humans having a good time? Ah, but he’s a catholic priest, they aren’t supposed to have those…

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