Robert J. Marks and Yuri Danilov discuss what we thought we knew about the brain twenty years ago, and how what we think we know now might change in another twenty years. Bringing their conversation to a close, Bob and Yuri also get into the innumerable details of our phenomenally complex human visual system and consider whether our actions are Read More ›

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The brain’s lateral ability to heal itself can be accelerated by external stimulation. Today Robert J. Marks discusses brain stimulation with Yuri Danilov. Show Notes 00:47 | Introducing Yuri Danilov, Senior Scientist, Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison 01:18 | Phineas Gage (1823 – 1860) and the study of brain trauma 03:23 | Do we actually remember everything? Read More ›

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Your brain is always changing, from death till the moment you die.  Neuroscience calls this change in your brain neuroplasticity. Today Robert J. Marks discusses the brain’s ability to adapt and change throughout our lives with Yuri Danilov. Show Notes 01:00 | Introducing Yuri Danilov, Senior Scientist, Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison 03:00 | Unmasking and opening Read More ›

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In a blast from the not too distant past, we revisit Robert J. Marks’ review of 2018’s top ten exaggerations, hyperbole, and failures in artificial intelligence. Marks bursts a lot of bubbles. They serve as object lessons to see through the smoke and mirrors that continue to obscure the actual reach of artificial intelligence in 2019. Show Notes 00:30 | Read More ›

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On an episode of The World and Everything In It, J.C. Derrick interviews Robert J. Marks on the brave new world of ethical questions and dilemmas posed by the growing use and possibilities of artificial intelligence. Show Notes 00:50 | Should one be more fearful or excited about AI? 02:00 | China, privacy, and the Fourth Amendment 02:30 | Creating Read More ›

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Michael Egnor hosts a captivating conversation with Edward Feser, Aristotelian, prolific blogger, and philosopher of mind. Neurobabble and pop science dismissals of the mind, final causes, abstract thought, and free will each face Feser’s piercing critique. Show Notes 00:41 | Introducing Edward Feser 01:00 | Roger Scruton on answers without questions in neuroscience 02:20 | A problem with pop neuroscience: Read More ›

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Gary N. Smith and Robert J. Marks continue their discussion of IBM’s Watson and its grim future in health and medicine. The problem, they say, is that Watson amounts to a real world instance of John Searle’s “Chinese Room”. Computers don’t understand Chinese, English, or numbers for that matter. With reference to many of the leading thinkers in AI research, Gary and Bob consider what it will take for AI to ever achieve something like human thought.

Show Notes

01:00 | John Searle’s “Chinese Room” and understanding numbers03:00 | Following instructions versus understanding. “Is it safe to walk downstairs backwards with your eyes closed?”04:20 | IBM Watson’s ineffectiveness in health and medicine06:45 | What is the crux of Watson’s failure?08:00 | Chamath Palihapitiya’s brutal verdict on Watson09:00 | “Artificial Intelligence”, the 2017 marketing word of the year09:30 | The “algorithm of the gaps”10:00 | Roger Schank and Douglas Hofstadter seeking human thought10:30 | Solving narrow problems to make money11:00 | “Climbing a tree to reach the moon”11:30 | General intelligence, i.e. common sense, the Holy Grail of AI12:45 | Bob’s thesis: computers can only ever do algorithmic things13:30 | Skepticism of Edward Leamer, statistician at UCLA

Additional Resources

Bio and faculty page of Gary N. Smith at Pomona CollegeStandard Deviations: Flawed Assumptions, Tortured Data, and Other Ways to Lie with StatisticsThe AI Delusion by Gary N. SmithOn John Searles’ “Chinese Room Argument” at the Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe Association of National Advertisers announce the “Marketing Word of the Year For 2017“Referenced: Roger Schank at Socratic Arts, Douglas Hofstadter at Indiana University, Oren Etzioni at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Edward Leamer at UCLA

Gary N. Smith and Robert J. Marks continue their discussion of IBM’s Watson and its grim future in health and medicine. The problem, they say, is that Watson amounts to a real world instance of John Searle’s “Chinese Room”. Computers don’t understand Chinese, English, or numbers for that matter. With reference to many of the leading thinkers in AI research, Read More ›

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Gary N. Smith and Robert J. Marks discuss the inability of AI to understand puns, lyrics, context, or anything at all. From trading futures, predicting political outcomes, and parsing lyrics, the fundamental incomprehension of artificial intelligence is a key to understanding its limitations. Show Notes 02:30 | The AI Delusion by Oxford University Press 03:00 | The importance of knowing…

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Gary N. Smith and Robert J. Marks discuss the inability of AI to understand puns, lyrics, context, or anything at all. From trading futures, predicting political outcomes, and parsing lyrics, the fundamental incomprehension of artificial intelligence is a key to understanding its limitations. Show Notes 02:30 | The AI Delusion by Oxford University Press 03:00 | The importance of knowing Read More ›

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