Selected issues of artificial intelligence

When considering the issues of artificial intelligence, we need to have a point of reference. This point of reference may be the definition of human intelligence. The literature contains many different definitions, but most of them come down to the conclusion that intelligence is the ability to adapt to new tasks and living conditions or a way in which humans process information and solve problems. Intelligence is also the ability to associate and to understand. It is influenced by both hereditary factors and by nurture. The most important processes and functions making up human intelligence are learning and using knowledge, ability to generalize, perception and cognitive abilities, e.g. ability to recognize a given object in any context. Moreover, we can list such elements as memorizing, setting and achieving objectives, ability to cooperate, formulation of conclusions, ability to analyze, creativity as well as conceptual and abstractive thinking. Intelligence is also related to such factors as self-consciousness, emotional and irrational states of human being.

The so-called man-made intelligent machines may be programmed to imitate only in a very limited scope, a few of above listed elements making up human intelligence. Thus, we have still a long way to go before we understand the functioning of the brain and are able to build its artificial counterpart. In this chapter, we shall briefly present the selected issues concerning artificial intelligence, beginning with the historical Turing test and the issue of the “Chinese room”.