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Wolfram Promises Computing That Answers Questions
An anonymous reader writes "Computer scientist Stephen Wolfram feels that he has put together at least the initial version of a computer that actually answers factual questions, a la Star Trek's ship computers. His version will be found on their Web-based application, Wolfram Alpha. What does this mean? Well, instead of returning links to pages that may (or may not) contain the answer to your questions, Wolfram will respond with the actual answer. Just imagine typing in 'How many bones are in the human body?' and getting the answer." Right now, though the search entry field is in place, Alpha is not yet generally available -- only "to a few select individuals."
package com.wolfram;
public class Alpha {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("42");
}
}
Q: How many bones are in the human body?
A: Did the human in question eat fish recently?
I don't think this can be examined without language issues. Lojban attempts to make a parsable constructed language (currently undergoing a few grammar issues, but mostly locked down). As we get closer to the Singularity, with regards to infant-style general AI and perhaps even transhuman implants (thought detector or such), we'll see perhaps a myriad of unambiguous languages.
Your cautiousness and pragmatism in the first two sentences was noted and admired. Then you used the word Singularity in the Vinge sense, and my woo-detector pegged.
Q: How many bones are in the human body?
A: How does bones are in the human body make you feel?
You look for an answer until you find it or give up.
Oh, so (i) you don't understand the question, then (ii) you look for an answer, (iii, A) you find it (how? how will you know you found it?), or (iii, B) you give up.
Just wanted to make sure that this thread was really about this. Here's a new low, even for slashdot.
three, sir
Check out my sysadmin blog!
I'm not sure I really want to trust a product by Wolfram and Heart. Seems like there is a possibility of some soul loss.
"You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
You look for an answer until you find it or give up.
Oh, so (i) you don't understand the question, then (ii) you look for an answer, (iii, A) you find it (how? how will you know you found it?)
Once you have found the answer only then will you understand the question, grasshooper.