[ExI] The symbol grounding problem in strong AI

[Damien Broderick]

On 12/26/2009 10:12 AM, Gordon Swobe wrote:

> he really does wonder what possesses intelligent people
 >to attribute "mind" to computers. ...  Does the abacus have
 >a mind merely because humans use it to do maths?

Who seriously attributes mind (or consciousness or intentionality) to 
their laptop, or even the world's best existing supercomputer? This is a 
strawman. The interesting question is what sort of advanced computer 
hardware+software might develop these experiences and capacities for 
independent decision. However--

>If computers have minds then so do kitchen can-openers and the word loses all meaning.

That's as ridiculous, in the context of considering a hypothetical 
human-grade AGI machine, as saying "If human brains have minds then so 
do bedbugs and individual neurons."

Damien Broderick