Can Machines Know

Can Machine Know?

One of the challenging and debatable topics in today’s technologically advanced world is to answer a question “Can Machine Know?” Problems associated or surrounding this topic is to understand meaning of the words вЂ?know’ and вЂ?machine’ and find a meaningful linkages between them.

In this essay, for simplicity, I shall consider “machine” as pre-programmed man-made equipment (like automatic washing machines, computer aided machines). To begin with let us consider the definition of the word knowledge to be the ability to have information within oneself as a result of experience, or because you have learned it or have been told about it. The core of the definition is possession of specific information. Interestingly, the word is generally defined in the context of mankind, no direct context for non-living object. Therefore, I take liberty to notionally extend the definition also to a machine. Thus, I say that a specific piece of information embedded in a machine may be considered as knowledge possessed by a machine.

Further, in this essay, I shall use the words �know’ and �knowledge’ synonymously without getting into the finer literary aspects of the two words and carry same meaning and relevance for man and machine. However, the problems of defining the words �machines’ and �know’ along with their linkage remains the core of the discussion.

I shall discuss the aforementioned issues based on the Social, emotional and technological aspects of today’s common man. These aspects will provide me a framework for the discussion and help me find an answer to the question �Can machines know?’

Let me begin the discussion with an example of automatic washing machine. It has ability to take in and out water and detergent at right stages of washing cycle, washes the cloths and even dries them. User sets mode of washing (hard wash for cotton, light for woolen) and it washes accordingly. So, my grandmother said the “washing machine knows washing”. In fact the machine requires manual setting (or externally fed knowledge) to determine what kind of clothes it is being fed and accordingly it washes clothes; without input (setting) there is no desired result. However, it doesn’t вЂ?know’ how to distinguish between the cloths and kind of washing it should perform (as it has not been programmed for the purpose). Whereas, a washer man can differentiate type of cloth and decide nature of wash required.

My uncle, an electronics engineer said, a machine вЂ?knows’ how to perform specific operations, gave examples of computer programmed machines (commonly know as Special Purpose Machine). He supported his view by saying that even human being can not have knowledge of each and everything; cited example - Carpenter can work on wood, but not on steel. Further, he suggested me to look into definition of a preprogrammed machine, which is defined as “a general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanently” . On the other hand, my 11 years old brother said, machine knows nothing as it always needs a man to operate it. His view was based on the definition of machine as given in his standard VI text book, which reads вЂ?machine is a device which helps us to lift heavy loads, or speed up the motion or change the direction of force in desired direction’ . Above three examples raise two questions in my mind вЂ" (i) Is there any relationship between individual’s profession (and experience) with the way they define machine or knowledge? (ii) Does a context change definition or meaning of a machine. In today’s technologically advanced world it seems that вЂ?machine’ has been defined in many ways and with reference to a particular technology and thus I end the discussion on definition of machine here.

Some of the household equipments sometimes give a feeling that they are interactive. My washing machine greets me (on the electronic screen) with written words �Welcome’, when switched-off - �Good bye’, such gestures may appeal to our emotions. But we should keep it in mind that these are only result of preprogrammed gestures. ASIMO (a humanoid) shakes hand and gives audio greeting I see these features as transfer of engineer’s social behavior into the machine through software. The above examples are good illustration of transfer of knowledge (to perform and give emotional touch to user) to a machine from a man. It raises another question in my mind - is an externally �transferred body of knowledge (information)’ is same as �knowing’?

Now, I see a need to discuss the process of transfer of knowledge. Human being acquires knowledge in four ways - through language, reasoning, emotion and perception . As discussed above, machines can acquire knowledge through engineering design or software etc. The pre-programmed machine acquires knowledge (to perform) through a �Programming Language’ (like C++, UNIX). Such transfer of knowledge to machine does not include acquisition of knowledge through emotions, perceptions or reasoning. Machines do not have feeling; even the pre-programmed gestures are the result of programmer’s emotion and not that of the machine. This makes me think �is knowledge acquisition through language sufficient or there should be evidences of ability to acquire knowledge through all the aforementioned four ways?’

From the sociological perspective, the ability to perform an activity with responsibility and maturity is essential, in other words one should be able to react and respond to each situation in a socially acceptable manner . This perspective gives interesting picture in my mind. When I imagine a pre-programmed digging machine working вЂ" it will continue to dig the ground even if a child comes in its path. If it has some sensors (if programmed), it might stop, but for sure the machine can not help the child calm down or move her to a safer place. A large number of workers end up cutting their fingers in the revolving blades and other such industrial accidents again raises question - вЂ?Can machines behave or run responsibly (or know) without having its own emotions and perception?

Scientist A. P. J Abdul Kalam states �Knowledge leads to development’

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