Can Computers think?

According to Minsky, sophisticated computer programs equals to and even surpasses the human consciousness. Minsky is passionate with creating programs that mimic the characteristics of human intelligence. Minsky is developing a program called Magnus and once completed it will exhibit characteristics, such as learning, language, and knowledge representation which are normally connected with consciousness. Minsky says that “memory of inner states is the key attribute of consciousness” (Beedles 120). The human brain has limited records and hardly can remember their recent experiences, let a lone a lifetime. However, a computer can be programmed to uphold records of its internal states and then trace back through them if needed. Minsky goals from my understanding are to one day have computers know and understand common sense, be able to interpret language and sentences but to overall look like the human brain with several neural nets.

Minsky views speculate that he believes computers are smarter than human’s. I think he feels that the human brain is limited to certain activity and capabilities then computers. I believe computers can process things faster than human beings can. In some sense, they can be smarter than a human can, but is that the way life should be lived? I do not think so. Technology is without a doubt expanding rapidly and is used on a daily basis by millions of people. I am not saying that technology is bad, its definitely useful and necessary but to a certain extent. What technology should not be is put into a human form. Why do we need robots? Are people that lazy and not capable of providing things for themselves. With that type of technology why do human’s need to exist?

There can be many reasons to this subject but the most important is that human’s produce feelings, whereas computers and electronic devices do not. A good movie that I can use to apply my example is the “I, Robot” featuring Will Smith. This movie was based on technology, robots, and high advanced computer software. In the movie, the computer software began to over run the robots internally, having them create illegal actions but the main purpose to what they wanted was to over rule human existence and the way of life. The computer software wanted to control everything, which is ridicules; I do not think technology should be that highly advanced. Technology is a necessity but what scares me is that one day it will be the only way of life. Computer’s in my opinion should not be smarter or highly advanced then human’s, they last thing this country needs is to be overruled by human like robots or computers.