What makes humans different from a computer?

Answer 1

A good question--too good, in fact. There are a lot of hypotheses about this--and it's a wider question--what makes people different not only from computers but from animals?

So--there's no definitative answer--but here's my view (hypothesis, if you will).

The baic concept pertaining to artifical intelligence (AI) is the "Turing principle." It states (briefly and skipping the math) that we can judge the difference etween a computer and a human being on the basis of how closely the computer responds compared to a human (which can be measured--the figure (usually as a percentage) is called the "Turing potential."

So far, no computer can respond enough like a human being to foool anyone for more than a few minutes--if that. Why I'l get to in a second. A "perfect Turing machine" would be indistinguishable from a human being--to the outside observer.

AI scientists argue that if an AI device had a perfect Turing potential, then it is intelligent--no diference between machine and human.

Why are humans different, though (theabove jsut boils down to being able to measure HOW differnet--but you'll see why that's key in a second.) First--humans can make choices outside their "programming--" in fact, a mature human has the capability to be all but entirely self-programming--and can override any outside instructions. Withhout getting into the philosophical implications, that's a technical way of saying we have free choice. Second--and this is key--humans are self aware.

Now--her's where I think the AI people are off base. The Turing hypohesis stipulates that a perfect Turing machine is "indistinguishable" in its responses. Fair enough--but would such a machine be self-aware? By definition, there is absolutely no way to tell if a perfect Turing machine is self aware--because the only possible observer who can know if te machine is self-aware is--the machine itself. And you can't judge by the machines responses--because by definition its responses cant be distinguished on that basis.

This is a "logic box--don't try to unravel it. The bottom line-Humans are self aware--machines aren't. And if they ever do become self-aware-we may not be able to tell!

Answer 2

our brains, sorry, neurons can make numerous connections to each other at one time, in a web, giving an exponential amount of connections and possibilities.

computers are hardwired and can "basically" only make one connection at a time.

our brains can process, store and retrieve information quicker because of this.

also, a quad core 64 bit cpu is 15 grams.
the human brain is 1360 grams

that's 90 times more mass to use as cpu, storage, and wiring .All compacted together, working at once
(not exactly the point though)

once we have a computer that doesn't have to connect to other parts of it though individual wires, then we can compete with the human brain.

we need a quantum computer
http://www.cs.caltech.edu/~westside/quantum-intro.html


and yes. computers can really only do what we tell them to do. They cannot decide without us building in suggestions. even then they cannot imagine exceeding those orders.

I think they would have to have a sense of self based on their actions, thusly creating a sentient being.

but really now. Do we WANT to do that? Why...... giving the computer a chance to think for its own and basically becoming sentient, only causes philosophical, religious, and safety issues for us
http://www.improve-education.org/id25.html
http://hansonrobotics.com/humanizing_robots.html

Answer 3

Humans are biological, computers aren't (yet).
Humans are mobile, computers aren't (yet).
Humans can reproduce , computers can't (yet).
Humans are self-aware, computers aren't (yet).

Computers operate by performing often sequential instructions from an input program, while no clear analogy of a program appears in human brains.

The human brain is mediated by chemicals and analog processes, a computer uses electrical and mechanical switches.

The human brain is hard-wired with certain abilities, such as the ability to learn language, to interact with experience and unchosen emotions, and usually develops within a culture. A computer requires separate software to perform functions beyond its basic computational capabilities.

Answer 4

Humans created computers.

Answer 5

Computer usually operate on an if..then-else type logic, where all possible scenarios have to be spelled out. Humans can figure out the scenarios for themselves. Moreover, they can jump over the intermediate steps to a conclusion (the Aha factor)

Answer 6

Digital computers are basically linear (can only do one thing at a time) but are very fast. Human brains are very highly parallel in processing but not as fast.

Besides that, digital computers don't eat ice cream.

:)

Answer 7

Human has self knowledge. But, we want to tell the orders or to program to run the computer. The memory is the brain of the computer, if it is broken, we can change another menory insted of that. But if our brain damaged we change our brain. It will be dangerous to us.

Answer 8

I believe the research scientists have done on quantum computers can lead us into the age of artificial intelligence, too soon to tell but I think that's the direction they are headed in.

Answer 9

Humans are alive.
Computers are inorganic.

Humans are creative.
Computers can only execute the code that humans wrote.
Computer modified code is very limited.

Answer 10

Computers dont ask idiotic questions like these...

And what the hell does have to do with Astro and Space???