PART 1 • Some thoughts on kasparov vs. Deep blue
This stuff is a bit overwhelming even for those of us who don't buy into
«HALphobia». I can imagine what this beast looks like to someone who
watched Colossus three too many times.
So why did IBM spend millions of dollars on a computer that would ultimately play chess better than any human in the world? Was it an insidious
attempt to destroy humanity? (If you answered «yes» to that, turn off your
computer right now and go turn on your TV. You're missing The X-Files).
Was it an altruistic gesture designed to entertain and enthrall chess fans
the world over? (If you answered «yes» to that, go turn on your TV as well;
there should be some Fantasy Island reruns coming on soon).
First of all, they wanted to make buckets of ducats. That goes without
saying (but I said it anyway). They received tons of PR value from it. CNN
ran pieces on the match all week long; you can't buy publicity like that.
But they had another motive too, one which may also translate into tons
of greenbacks for Big Blue. It was a foray into the realm of «expert systems», sort of the poor man's Artificial Intelligence.
Picture this: you're a doctor and you have a patient who is suffering from
some kind of «mystery» ailment. You've consulted with your colleagues,
read stacks of medical references until your eyes are red, and you're still
baffled.
Wouldn't it be great to just fire up a computer, type in some information,
and have it find a solution for you? And wouldn't it be awesome if it could
do it interactively? The «conversation» might go like this:
You (the doctor) type in a list of symptoms. After a database search of a
few seconds, the program presents you with a list of fifty possible maladies. It then asks you to get more specific: «Is the patient running a high
fever?»
You answer «no» and the program eliminates the Malaysian Jungle Fever
as well as 34 other afflictions. Next it inquires, «Does the patient display
a nasal discharge?»
You reply «yes,» and 10 more illnesses go out the window. The program
then shows the remaining five diseases and asks, «Does the patient suffer
from sinus congestion?» You say «yes» and BOOM! -- we're down to two.
The program asks «Is it ragweed season?». You reply «no» and one more
affliction is eliminated. The screen now displays simply «Common cold».
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