In Joseph Weizenbaum's article the two main points were 1) a computer could
form a strong bond with those it interacted with and 2) this would lead to
computers becoming extensions of ourselves. The article shed much light
on the previous research conducted by professors at MIT who were able to give a
computer the ability to speak the English language while also writing code, in
the form of the ELIZA program, that allowed it to respond to verbal statements
in English. The dialog example (p. 369) provided interesting insight into
the process that the computer followed to continue dialog during a counseling
session. While following the Rogerian techniques, it gave the impression
that the computer actually understood the conversation that transpired when in
fact it was simply following code language that occurred in this context.
This elevated people's connection to the machine, even
leading those into delusional thinking. This furthered the thought that
if people were able to so closely connect to a computer without connection to
an actual human, what would be possible if integrated with a human in a type of
symbiosis. This debate concluded that while the computer is ever evolving,
it could not match man's ability to think logically and would simply remain as
a counterpart able to enhance functions of man or provide them more efficiently,
but never replace him altogether.
--CG
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