POVERTY AND MENTAL HEALTH

 STRONG AI AND SEARL'S CHINESE ROOM 

(from Sir Roger Penrose's "The Emperor's New Mind)

Algorithm, a calculation procedure of some kind. For example the algorithm of a thermostat is simple; but the algorithm for any mental activity of a human brain, it would be more. But according to Strong AI, it is still algorithm whether simple as the thermostat's one or the vastly complicated one of the human brain which includes conscious manifestations; will differ in degree, and not in principle. Differ in degree of complications or higher order structures or self-referential properties, or some other attributes one might assign to an algorithm. The mental activities such as thinking, feeling, understanding, intelligence, consciousness according to strong AI view are mere algorithms followed by the brain. This kind of stupendous algorithm is actually present in the brain, then in principle this kind of an algorithm can very well be run on a computer/ or any other general purpose modern electronic computer if not for limitations for space or storage and speed of operations. The virtue of the algorithm will lie in its performance: accuracy of its results, scope, economy and the speed at which it can be operated. And if this kind of algorithm can actually be found and used on electronic devices, these devices could easily pass the Turing Test. According to Strong AI, if that kind of an algorithm can made to work in a device, then it would be actually be conscious and feel, think, understand, and intelligent. John Searl, has strongly opposed the idea of computers having those mental attributes of understanding (entirely absent), although many such devices/ appropriately programmed computers have previously passed the Turing Test.

The story of the hamburger in the restaurant; first one burnt to crisp, and with the second one, the customer was very pleased. The computer is asked in each case, whether the men ate the hamburger in each case, "no" to first one, and "yes" to second one thus passing the simple Turing Test. But does that mean that the computer or the program itself has actual understanding of the circumstances. According to Searl, just following an algorithm and answering the questions do no mean that actual understanding. For example, Searl imagines himself in a small locked room and doing all the manipulations himself and the information is fed into the slot without any outside information, the machine will simply follow the algorithm and answer correctly even though he does not speak Chinese. The story is told in Chinese, and the operations of the computer's algorithm are supplied in English as part of set of  instructions for manipulating  counters with Chinese symbols on them; the sequences of symbols representing the story and the questions are fed into the room through a small slot. After all the manipulations are completed, the resulting sequences are fed out into the slot. Since these manipulations are simply carrying out the algorithm of Chang's program, the final resulting sequence should turn out to be the Chinese for yes or no which is the correct answer to the original question in Chinese. Since the instructions were given in English, Searls would be able to answer just as a Chinese person it correctly even if he does not understand Chinese. Therefore, according to Searl merely carrying out of an algorithm does not imply that actual understanding has taken place. But this kind of manipulations is complicated and time consuming; this may take days, months and even years for such a simple manipulation of the algorithm. talking about principle and not practicality. There must be complications to such an extent that a human may not be able....there must be sufficient complications to match a human brain and thus to pass the Turing Test proper. Any such program has to be horrendously complicated; the operation of these programs, in order to effect the reply even some simple Turing Test questions might involve so many steps. If there is the principle of algorithm that goes on in a human brain, it must critically complicated. A human being might spend an entire lifetime to program such a complicated algorithm into a computer to pass the Turing Test proper.