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Commentaries

2006

  • AI re-emerging as research in complex systems
    by Kemal A. Delic
    October 2006
    The history and the future of Artificial Intelligence could be summarized into three distinctive phases: embryonic, embedded and embodied. We briefly describe early efforts in AI aiming to mimic intelligent behavior, evolving later into a set of the useful, embedded and practical technologies. We project the possible future of embodied intelligent systems, able to model and understand the environment and learn from interactions, while learning and evolving in constantly changing circumstances. We conclude with the (heretical) thought that in the future, AI should re-emerge as research in complex systems. One particular embodiment of a complex system is the Intelligent Enterprise.
  • Reflections on the philosophy of technology culture of technological reflection
    by Arun Kumar Tripathi
    August 2006
    "Philosophers point out the liabilities, what happens when technology moves beyond lifting genuine burdens and starts freeing us from burdens that we should not want to be rid of." (Albert Borgmann)"The unintended consequences and dangers of technologization are real, and they deserve reflections and replies. Meanwhile the deeper danger of cultural and moral devastation goes unnoticed and is to some extent eclipsed by attention to the overt dangers (which, to repeat, need to be addressed forthwith)." (Albert Borgmann)
  • The waning importance of categorization
    by Espen Andersen
    May 2006
    The mobile phone has caused us to plan less and communicate more. The Internet causes us to categorize less and search more - and media's increasing Internet nervousness is driven not just by fear of diminishing revenues but from the fear of a loss of importance of categorization. When everybody can find everything and networked computers determine what is relevant, media companies lose their ability to create agendas. To maintain their influence, they will need to let the Internet shape their main products, not desperately try to keep the world as it is.