Can machines think?

Question: Can machines think!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

What is a machine!? A physicist considers a level to be a machine - it modifies energy in a directional manner!. Dictionaries cite parts unified to perform tasks, but then what isn't made up of smaller, non-extraneous parts!? By some definitions, human beings are a kind of machine!.

What is thinking!? If it is the ability to predict and learn, then most animals around think on one level or another!. Even worms can sometimes be trained to run mazes, and there are many robots and computers that have been made that can perform such tasks!. If it involves only the independant manipulation of information and decision-making, then we've had computers that could do this for a long time!. How can we be certain that even other people are thinking!?

Most of the lines drawn to separate things in the minds of people are just that - functions of imagination that don't exist in nature!. The universe doesn't sort things into 'machine' and 'non-machine' or 'thinking' and 'non-thinking' categories!. Just us!. Perhaps it is time to reflect on whether this kind of sorting in this case is really useful!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The current level of technology only permits machines that can emulate thought!. The most advanced thinking machine is Deep Blue, a chess playing computer!. It recently beat a Russian chess champion, setting a new world record!. But according to the programmers, all the computer did was analyze the board and predict possible outcomes of possible moves to the nth degree!. There was no intuition, no hunches or guesswork!. It was all mathematical calculation and statistical probabilities!. When a machine performs a task or makes a decision and can't explain why, then we can consider it to be thinking!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah, they can!. As long as you teach them, they'll be able to think about what to do!.

But unlike us, we can think beyond what we were taught, do things that we were once not capable of, and exceed our limitations!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, if a machine can beat the world's chess champion, as IBM's Big Blue did, then that computer definitely can think quite well--but only about chess!.

Harleigh Kyson Jr!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They can only think CERTAIN things, unlike us who can think much deeply!. They are programmed to limited thoughts, in my opinion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Can you think!?

If you consider calculations as 'thinking', yes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They can never have "common sense" and so they can't think and never will!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Only when they are switched on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Can humans think!?Www@QuestionHome@Com