Just Remember: Computers ARE Your Friends... Your Friends... Your...
Huzzah. System failure at work today, erasing 75% (per my estimate, anyway) of sale pricing data, resulting in a near mob-scene. Who would've thought ordinary housewives could take on such a shocking resemblance to the mobs you see in the old B&W 'Frankenstein' movies? All they needed were torches and a procession-- wait, they kind of had the procession, the line at the refund desk looked pretty interesting. They just didn't want to take 'we're sorry, but we'll have to refund the money you spent on the buy one get one free items that actually rang up both items instead of ignoring one'.
I am happy to report that 99% of the folks did NOT blame the cashiers. But hoo boy, did the managers catch flaming Hades.
Just goes to remind us all, I suppose, that computers are very good at what they do-- but what they do is very limited. At the core, it's all based on a simple decision: Yes or No. In the absense of a clear answer, the computer can't do diddly-squat. That's where we get the human operator-- and the EVER popular 'operator error', better known to us old-timers as GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Do I think computers will ever be able to 'think' for themselves? Difficult philosophical point, that. Can you conclusively prove that HUMANS think for themselves, rather than just reacting to perceived stimuli? (Ok, no comments from the Peanut Gallery, thenkyewverramuch.)
I think someday we won't be able to tell the difference-- in some cases, we almost can't now-- but by then I'm pretty sure no one will care. I think the more pertinent question would be, 'Do you think computers will ever have souls?'
Well...
Some days my answer to that is the same as the answer to the first question. Someday we won't be able to tell the difference... and by then, I hope, no one will care. I think that will be a milestone in the troubled adolescence of humanity.
That is, of course, always assuming I'm really thinking, yanno. *grin*