« Ada - der intelligente Raum » - Universität und ETH Zürich an der Expo.02


		Uses and limitations
		Statements
			Rodney Douglas
			Paul Verschure
			François Höpflinger
			Rolf Pfeifer
			Peter Stamm
			Ray Kurzweil
		Feedback
		Competition

Prof. François Höpflinger, Sociologist

Prof. François Höpflinger is an honorary professor of sociology at the University of Zurich. He is principally concerned with issues of population sociology, gerontology, generational questions and relationships, as well as family sociology and social policy.
www.hoepflinger.com

The following text is a satirical commentary on the topic of «artificial intelligence» created expressly for the Expo.02 exhibition project.

Artificial intelligence in competition with artificial idiocy

Artificial intelligence: a tempting idea. If this succeeds, the centuries-old question posed by the extraterrestrial silicone astronomers of Cygnus 27 – Is there intelligent life on this blue planet? – could finally be answered in the positive. Artificial intelligence – based on neural networks – lets us solve problems which – without intelligence – we wouldn’t even need to solve in the first place.

The possibilities for using intelligent machines and spaces are infinite: Who would not be enthusiastic about a washing machine that not only cleans clothes but also provides helpful fashion and stock market tips? What patient doesn’t envision medications that pass on all the side effects to the doctor? Who wouldn’t warm to the idea of an intelligent house that was not only burglar-proof but also rehabilitated potential thieves right there on the spot? Artificial intelligence: that’s definitely the future of humanity! Since humans are creatures plagued by contradictions and deficiencies, however, more intelligence does not necessarily guarantee better problem solving. Intelligence concentrated in a small space can be downright bothersome, as anyone well knows who has experienced teacher conventions, academic conferences and parliamentary debates. A collective body of intelligent creatures behaves with a surprising degree of helplessness and lack of circumspection. Artificial intelligence can intensify the problem of hyperactive, overdriven intelligence supply.

Along with artificial intelligence, it therefore seems necessary for society to develop the counter model of artificial idiocy as well, under the overarching motto "Stupidity can be learned (and is gladly copied)”. An intelligent computer or a super-intelligent house undermines the self-confidence of those with average intelligence. An artificial idiot, on the other hand, boosts one’s confidence and self-assurance. For millennia, insecure men have practised a similar strategy in boosting their self-confidence by selecting a mate they imagined to be dumber than themselves. An artificial brain that makes just as many mistakes as humans helps counter depressed spirits.

Artificial intelligence and artificial idiocy – both are the mainstays of our future. It can be claimed, however, and rightly so, that our society is already capable of producing more than enough artificial stupidity on its own, as is easily demonstrated by the talk shows seen on television. Upon closer inspection, many educational institutions serve less to promote intelligence than to channel insufficient knowledge and delusion into socially useful outlets. Advertising campaigns often have the sole purpose of making intelligent people into pleasant dummies, etc.

Artificial and natural intelligence have to continually compete with artificial and natural idiocy, and it is after all precisely this area of societal conflict that makes life exciting. The experiment «Ada – the intelligent space» will show whether artificial intelligence can stand its ground against such hard competition.