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  • I propose to consider the question, 'Can machines think?'
    This should begin with definitions of the meaning of the terms 'machine' and 'think'.
    The definitions might be framed so as to reflect so far as possible the normal use of words,
    but this attitude is dangerous.

    If the meaning of the words 'machine' and 'think' are to be found
    by examining how they are commonly used
    it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the meaning
    and the answer to the question, 'Can machines think?'
    is to be sought in a statistical survey such as a Gallup poll. But this is absurd.
    - A. M. Turing's (1950, p. 433) 'Computing Machinery and Intelligence'

    Approaches to AI Research





    Image source: 'Metalhead' (Black Mirror)

    1. What is AI?

    2. (def 0) AI is a branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building intelligent entities

    3. LHS of def. 0 — AI (Artificial intelligence)
    4. RHS of def. 0 — A branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building intelligent entities
    5. ∴ This definition (viz. def. 0) is tautological

    6. We need to define intelligent (in the RHS of def. 0) using other terms if we want our definition to be non-tautological

    7. Other candidate non-tautological definitions of AI:
    8. (def 1) AI is a branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building entities that can think rationally
    9. (def 2) AI is a branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building entities that can think humanly
    10. (def 3) AI is a branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building entities that can act humanly
    11. (def 4) AI is a branch of computer science that is concerned with understanding and building entities that can act rationally

    Image source: Steven Spielberg's (2001) A.I. Artificial Intelligence
    1. Each of the four alternative definitions of AI (def 1, def 2, def 3, def 4) gives rise to a particular approach to AI research


    Approaches to AI research
    (Russell & Norvig, 1995, 2002, 2010, Bringsjord & Govindarajulu, 2020)


    Human-based Based on ideal rationality
    Reasoning-based
    Systems that think like humans
    (def 2)

    Systems that think rationally
    (def 1)

    Behaviour-based
    Systems that act like humans
    (def 3)

    Systems that act rationally
    (def 4)