We must be careful not to misuse ‘AI’

Having been a participant in early discussions about “artificial intelligence” in the seventies and eighties (as a physicist working part-time in psychoacoustics and music perception), I am getting increasingly upset with today’s misuse of the acronym “AI,” and the related media hype about possible dangers for society lurking in the dark.

What we have today is human intelligence able to develop ultra-sophisticated computer programs of pattern recognition, learning algorithms, ultra-dense memory packing and ultra-fast digital processing. The impact on present-day society is proportionally equivalent to that of Gutenberg’s movable-type printing press in the 15th Century: revolutionary but immensely beneficial (of course, then as now we find humans using progress for their own dubious goals). Or in a more recent example, the Kremlin “photo-shopping” in or out Politburo members standing on top of the Lenin Tomb during May 1 Parades…

True “artificial Intelligence” will come only when computer systems designed by humans can “go off-line” and make decisions that had NOT been programmed in, that are NOT based on currently incoming information, that have the capacity of creating NEW information, OVERRIDE preprogrammed instructions, and PLAN new actions in the long-term time — and do all this processing as ONE SINGLE WHOLE of cooperatively interacting parts. In other words, an informational system capable of doing all the operations that distinguish the self-conscious, free-will human brain from a conscious animal brain.

You can find an excellent example in Science Fiction: the computer HAL in the film “2001,” when toward the end we realize that it had learned to read lips because it predicted that eventually the astronaut crew might be plotting to turn against its own commands…

— Juan Roederer, Boulder

Animals are not gifts, they are alive

Once again, the Longmont Humane Society comes through. A friend’s neighbor had a rabbit they left outside in a cage and cared little about. They were willing to relinquish it, thank goodness, and we got it to the humane society.

Please do not leave your animals outside to freeze, or live their lives in a small cage, and please give generously to the sainted humane societies this holiday season. Animals are not gifts, they are alive.

— Ann Huggins, Lafayette

‘Sibling relationships’ are key to social skills

Coming from a family of three girls, our house was always full of friends of all ages, opinions, achievements, arguments and love. Although we had our rough patches when we were young — constantly fighting over clothes and dirty looks, I wouldn’t exchange my sisters for anything. I’m a perfect combination of their personalities — they made me who I am today.

There is a widely known stereotype that only children tend to be more introverted and quiet, and you can usually tell when someone grew up without siblings. As I researched family dynamics and interviewed multiple people with one, three or no siblings at all, I came to the conclusion that siblings are a necessary part of growing up. Of course, I recognize that many people have thrived without siblings, and you can’t go back in time and have siblings, however, I believe that everyone should have and will develop a sibling-like relationship in their life.

My mom was an only child, but she didn’t live the “only child” life. Constantly surrounded by cousins of all ages and close related family, she found her “siblings.” My grandparents made sure she saw her cousins at least once a week, and when she wasn’t with her family, she was in dance practice or cheerleading for her school.

It is essential that only children have exposure to extracurricular activities and social events where they can connect with others as they grow up. To have somebody to look out for you, to fight with you, to encourage you, and to push you throughout your adolescent life is extremely important. Therefore, parents with only children must push that child out of the stereotypical “only child” life so that they can gain the necessary social skills and amazing memories that sibling relationships provide.

— Gabi Sharifi, Boulder