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www.us- tech.com


Tech-Op-ed December, 2019 SOUNDING OFF


By Michael Skinner Editor


Whatever Hasn’t Been Done Yet: AI


C


omputer scientist Lawrence Gordon Tesler once quipped, “AI is whatev- er hasn’t been done yet.” Tesler, who has been working in the field of hu- man-computer interaction for the better part of the last century, suc-


cinctly puts into words the difficulty of regarding a machine as “intelligent.” For years, as soon as a computer has been able to accomplish a difficult


task — beating world-class players at certain games, for example, checkers, chess, and most recently, go, an outcry of complaints arise. Critics say that the machine is not “thinking” and that its actions are purely computational. The magic of artificial intelligence vanishes a little more. The fundamental problem is one of perspective. AI has been developed on


the premise that human thought can be modeled so precisely that a machine will eventually be able to simulate it. As we learn more about the human mind, its magic disappears as well. Advances in brain science and psychology have opened up new opportunities to learn about the nature of thought and its physical roots. Through CT scanning and MRI, we have been able to discover enormous


amounts about how the brain operates in real time. The business of neu- roimaging is booming, with U.S. federal agencies investing billions of dollars into efforts to map brain circuits and understand patterns of electrical and chemical activity. But, the brain is wildly complex, and modeling it with hardware and soft-


ware is a massive challenge. Reasoning, problem solving, planning, learning, language processing, perception, motion and manipulation, social intelligence, general intelligence, etc., are all things that we often take for granted. The goal of AI is to become a sort of artificial “general” intelligence (AGI).


This would constitute a machine that can understand any intellectual task that humans can. Most recently, a group of Chinese researchers from the Chi- nese Academy of Sciences tested early AI engines, such as Google’s AI and Ap- ple’s Siri, which are referred to as “weak AI.” In 2017, the group found that these early AI systems could convincingly reach a level on par with a six-year- old child in first grade. There are currently multiple tests and scenarios that have been devised


to try and gauge a machine’s general intelligence. The most famous is the Tur- ing test, in which a machine and human have a conversation with a third hu- man, who is then required to figure out which one of the other parties is the machine. This is a fascinating example of “whatever hasn’t been done yet,” as the human is not measuring the machine’s actual “intelligence,” but whether it is a machine or not. If the machine is not convincingly human, it isn’t con- sidered intelligent enough. Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple, has expressed that he would consid-


er a machine to have general intelligence if it could make a cup of coffee in the average American’s home. This includes finding the coffee machine and a mug, adding water, and brewing the coffee with the correct sequence of ac- tions and button presses. Ben Goertzel takes the coffee test to another level in his “robot college


student” idea. Goertzel, one of the world’s leading AI theorists and developers, has said that he would feel convinced of a machine’s intelligence if it can en- roll in a college, take courses alongside humans and graduate with a degree. In the SMT industry, we are primarily concerned with using sophisticat-


ed algorithms to sort information and find patterns. Take for example, a “self- tuning” inspection program. Based on a library of algorithms and component dimensions, some of today’s inspection systems can identify patterns in defect detection and automatically adjust future inspections to eliminate escapes. While this is exciting, practical and very useful, it is a far cry from the


“AI” that many manufacturers claim to leverage. This is another clear-cut case of “whatever hasn’t been done yet.” Once the task of inspecting a PCB and automatically adjusting future parameters was broken down into bits and programmed, the magic was lost. In the meantime, regardless of whatever we agree on that counts as “in-


telligence” in a machine, we should try not to muddy the waters. On the oth- er hand, AI must be more than just “whatever hasn’t been done yet.” r


PUBLISHER’S NOTE


By Jacob Fattal Publisher


have in our business. This November’s productronica in Munich was a smashing success. Over


1,500 exhibitors packed the halls of the Messe München, which welcomed roughly 45,000 visitors over the show’s four days. Our U.S. Tech team wore out their shoes covering the exhibition. In fact, our editor calculated that we walked nearly 20 miles each over the course of the show. Highlights included the “3D AOI Arena” and the “Smart Maintenance


Pavilion,” as well as multiple initiatives to help a budding younger generation join the electronics manufacturing industry. The smart factory and Industry 4.0 were, of course, hot topics at the show, with equipment manufacturers rolling out new products across the SMT line to boost efficiency and reduce de- fects and downtime. However, an undercurrent of global economic uncertainty is dampening


year-end expectations, as many manufacturers hold back. Concerns around U.S. and China trade tensions, Brexit and the European Union, and unrest in the Middle East and South America are causing many businesses to pursue less aggressive growth strategies while waiting for things to settle down. For U.S. Tech, we look forward to another record-breaking issue in the


beginning of the year, focusing on assembly and automation and mainly tar- geting APEX. IPC APEX is a staple trade show in the U.S. each year, show- casing a concentration of manufacturers and suppliers that is unrivaled. Next year is shaping up to be an excellent year for our industry, despite


global tensions and political pressures. We have weathered many storms in the past and these latest squalls just serve to remind us of our continual suc- cess, as we work together to advance the field of technology. We at U.S. Tech would like to thank you, our readers, for your support and wish you happy holidays and a wonderful New Year. r


Around the Corner: 2020 H


ot off the heels of productronica, we immediately turn our attention to IPC APEX 2020. With the trade show to be held at the beginning of February, there is hardly time to catch a breath — a good problem to


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