Would assumptions be any more dangerous for a computer than for a human?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

computers are incapable of assuming. they can only do what they are told. if they do something random, it's because someone coded it to be random.

if computers could "assume", then they would have to have some sort of intelligence. and they are merely boxes that process a set of algorythms at the quickest pace possible.

Answer 2

I feel assumptions are dangerous with humans as well as a computer if they could do so. People have a tendency to assume the worse before waiting to find out the “rest of the story”. In many cases we assume the worse because we don’t have the self confidence to do otherwise. It can not only be dangerous but very hurtful unless you can be optimistic with your assumptions. It’s really best that neither computers nor humans make assumptions in my opinion.

Answer 3

I would argue that assumptions made by computers hold the same danger as assumptions by humans, especially since humans are/will be responsible for the assumptions that computers make.

Computers use assumptions all the time. These assumptions are programmed in by the developers. For example, web browsers can load linked pages in the background assuming that you are likely to click on them next.

The extra danger of a computer (until we develop computers with more adaptive/artificial intelligence) is that they are inflexible in making decisions other than based on their programming. This danger exists when a computer uses data and facts or assumptions.

Answer 4

I think assumptions are more dangerous for a computer.

A human can make an assumption, and if they see an absurd answer come out, they can go back and check their assumptions. Computers would have to be programmed to "recognize" absurd answers to be able to utilize this same safety net. It seems that an entire field of technology could be built around getting computers to recognize absurd results.

Answer 5

lets assume..:)...that a computer could make assumptions. It would be much more dangerous, because computers carry our way of life. They handle our money, our accounts, run our stop lights, our electricity, water. They handle our trade, our responsible for our communication(big one!), and we basically depend on them ridiculously. If computers could assume, it would be very bad, because even one assumption could throw things very far off. Computers were made precisely because they cannot presume. They can only calculate what we tell them to do. That is why they are so reliable(sometimes...:))

Answer 6

Fantastic question! Most interesting one I've seen lately!
I would thing that assumptions would be far more dangerous for a computer because it would have so many possible scenarios to choose from... far more than a human.

Answer 7

No...there's yet to be a computer made that's lynched a man.

Besides, computers are nothing but digitized human assumptions, anyway.

(My favorite computer "assumption" was the Air France A320 that flew into trees because the computer "assumed" that the pilot was trying to land...in fact, he was desperately trying to climb to avoid hitting those same trees.)

Answer 8

Assumpttions are for those who can think independently. I would hope a computer does not think independently.

Answer 9

Assuming that the person that programmed it was compitent!!!

lmfao!