Artificial Intelligence

Define: (a) intelligence, (b) artificial intelligence, (c) agent, (d) rationality, (e) logical reasoning.

a. Intelligence: Intelligence is defined as the ability to solve problems and make decisions whose outcomes benefit the users. Considering, the functions of problem-solving ability and decision-making process, intelligence is closely related to the nervous system. Thus, intelligence is defined in many ways like learning, understanding, reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, planning, logical thinking, and decision-making.

b. Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence is defined as the capability of a machine to imitate human behavior and action. The ability of the machine or robot to perform tasks just like the humans which are associated with intelligent beings, i.e., adapting to changing circumstances, is what is known to be Artificial Intelligence.

c. Agent: When talking about AI, we understand that it is the study of rational agents where any AI system consists of an agent and its environment. Thus, an agent is defined as something that can make decisions as an intelligent being. The agent is viewed as perceiving the environment and acting upon the environment.

d. Rationality: Rationality means that the AI agent that makes decisions and is accountable for available information, needs to act logically and consistently to choose the accurate and best action. Hence, the rationality of the agent in AI is considered to be measured by its performance measure, which is to take an accurate and efficient decision to action.

e. Logical Reasoning: Logical Reasoning is defined as when AI processes strict rules of logic. It involves using a given set of rules or data such that other information can be deduced from it by logical reasoning, which will help to give specific conclusions based on the premises.

Is AI a science, or is it engineering? Or neither or both? Explain.

Artificial Intelligence is both a science and engineering because when we understand the definition of AI, it is described as the technology of computer science which helps integrate both science and engineering into one to construct and develop intelligent machines. AI requires work with respect to computer sciences, engineering, languages, psychology, and robotics. (“What is Artificial Intelligence.”) If considered AI is engineering, we have several examples to prove the point, like for example, AI helps doctors diagnose illness, AI system and machines provides assistance in the various observations in the space industry, robots are used for various routine tasks, etc. On the other hand, AI as science is seen in a way by building intelligent machines and models to analyze the results to check for the theory that we assumed is correct or not. Hence, modeling and analyzing tasks can be considered to be AI as science.

“Surely computers cannot be intelligent—they can do only what their programmers tell them.” Is the latter statement true, and does it imply the former?

The latter statement is true because computers or machines are modeled in a way that they perform tasks according to what they are trained to do by the programmers. Considering machine learning modeling, the test phase is handled by the computer and the model, but it works because the model is trained according to the specifications and requirements and hence it can produce the desired output. AI is modeled and trained by programmers in a way that makes the computer adapt to the scenario one is looking for and produce output accordingly, but it would be difficult for the computer to predict and choose the best possible outcome with it being trained.

References:

Marr, B. (2018, February 14). The Key Definitions Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) That Explain Its Importance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/02/14/the-key-definitions-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-that-explain-its-importance/?sh=33e2e4894f5d

What is Artificial Intelligence. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from http://www.cs.bath.ac.uk/%7Ejjb/web/whatisai.html

McCarthy, J. (2012). What is AI? / Basic Questions. http://jmc.stanford.edu/artificial-intelligence/what-is-ai/index.html