The Strong AI Thesis: Intelligent Robots

In common with other workers in AI and Cognitive Science, Furse believes in what is known as the "strong AI hypothesis". Simply put, this states that one day, some time in the future, there will be intelligent robots which can do any intelligent task currently performed by humans. This thesis is defended by philosophers such as Daniel Dennett (at Tufts University in America) and Aaron Sloman (in Birmingham, England), and opposed by philosophers such as John Searle and Dreyfus. More recently the British mathematician Roger Penrose has entered the debate with his books "The Emperor's New Mind", and "Shadows of the Mind". Penrose takes a strongly anti strong AI position, and argues in the more recent book that it is impossible for a machine to understand mathematics. Therefore, if a machine cannot understand mathematics, it cannot be a mind. However, Furse's MU program is a simple demonstration that Penrose is probably mistaken.

Whilst the belief in intelligent robots in the future is well established among philosophers of the mind, and probably also among the young who watch Star Trek, it is less well known among the general public, and, in particular, by theologians. Thus, the man in the street still believes that "a computer can only do what it is programmed to do". "False", writes Furse in recent letter in the Catholic International "The Tablet", because MACHINES CAN LEARN.

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