This paper examines whether IBM's Watson computer constitutes a genuine artificial intelligence or is simply a sophisticated machine. Drawing on Descartes' theory of self-recognizing consciousness, Hume's critique of false analogies, and Dennett's concept of intentional systems, the paper argues that Watson lacks the hallmarks of a true mind: self-reflection, spontaneous thought, and independent intentionality. Although Watson's performance on the quiz show Jeopardy! demonstrated impressive information-retrieval capabilities, the paper concludes that these do not amount to consciousness or intelligence comparable to that of human beings.
One of the most notable features of philosophy as a branch of human knowledge is its endurance. Many of the same fundamental questions and problems remain unanswered and unsolved centuries — or even millennia — after they were first raised, despite many valiant and valid attempts to provide answers and solutions. Even though the best efforts of some of humanity's greatest minds have been directed toward these seemingly impossible philosophical tasks, they have failed to produce conclusive and irrefutable answers to such basic problems as whether reality objectively exists and whether it is possible for the human mind to develop knowledge of that existence. Some problems go even deeper than this, strange as it may seem that there is a level deeper than that of basic material existence.
The only thing that could be considered more foundational than an understanding of basic existence is the existence of the mind or consciousness itself. Before asking whether anything in the material or external world can be said to exist, it must first be demonstrated that the mind exists. In order to accomplish this, there must be an understanding of what the mind or consciousness is, how it exists, and how it can be known to exist. Many different philosophers have approached these and related problems from a variety of perspectives over the ages; however, modern advances have raised new dilemmas that attach to this old problem.
IBM recently unveiled a "super-intelligent" computer dubbed Watson, which made a highly publicized and ultimately successful appearance on the television quiz show Jeopardy!, defeating two human champions by a substantial margin. IBM and others have described the computer as intelligent. Watson is capable of generating answers based on word recognition and probability functions that use word associations in its stored knowledge banks to produce potential answers to queries. It is quite reasonable, however, to question this label. Is Watson truly intelligent — that is, possessed of a mind or consciousness capable of thought — or is it simply a machine of human design: highly sophisticated and even revolutionary, but a machine nonetheless? The following pages explore the nature of Watson's "mind" to determine whether such a mind truly exists and whether it can be termed "intelligent" in a manner comparable to human beings.
The basic question of whether the human mind or consciousness exists — and determining how and even whether it is possible to arrive at such knowledge — has been a central problem in philosophy for quite some time. Without a thorough grasp of the mind's existence and thus its nature, it is impossible to reach any meaningful conclusions regarding the knowledge generated (or supposedly generated) by that mind. Determining whether Watson is truly intelligent and thus thinks with a mind comparable to a human being's first requires an understanding of what such a mind is like.
One of the most famous justifications for the existence of the mind or consciousness — and thus at least a partial explanation of its nature and workings — comes from René Descartes. The oft-quoted "I think, therefore I am" from his Meditations on First Philosophy is elaborated by the philosopher as follows: "having fully weighed every consideration, I must finally conclude that the statement 'I am, I exist' must be true whenever I state or mentally consider it" (138). The very fact that his consciousness can reflect on the fact of its own existence must inherently mean that this consciousness exists — it would otherwise be unable to make such a reflection. Moreover, it is through the very act of making this reflection that the mind establishes its presence; consciousness can be said to exist through self-recognition.
"Limits of comparing Watson to human intelligence"
"Intentionality distinguishes human from machine minds"
Watson represents a remarkable achievement in computer science and logic. The success of this machine in answering questions does not reflect the creation of a true artificial intelligence, however. When self-recognition and creativity can be genuinely imbued in a computer, a host of new philosophical questions will doubtless emerge; but they will continue to find discourse and dialogue in the minds and conclusions of the past.
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