Rebooting AI: What's Missing, What's Next with Gary Marcus - TWIML Talk #298

In 'The Book of Why', Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie delve into the causal revolution, which has transformed the way we distinguish between correlation and causation. The book introduces causal diagrams, such as Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), and explains how to predict the effects of interventions. It addresses fundamental questions about causality and its implications in fields like medicine, economics, and artificial intelligence. The authors also discuss the potential of causal inference in enabling computers to understand counterfactuals and engage in moral decision-making.

Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis provide a lucid assessment of the current science in AI, explaining what today’s AI can and cannot do. They argue that current AI systems, based on deep learning, are narrow and brittle, and that achieving true artificial general intelligence requires moving beyond statistical analysis and large data sets. The authors suggest that by incorporating knowledge-driven approaches and common sense, we can build AI systems that are reliable and trustworthy in various aspects of our lives, such as homes, cars, and medical offices.

The Little House on the Prairie series consists of nine novels that follow the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder from her childhood in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to her adulthood in the Dakota Territory. The books chronicle the Ingalls family's experiences, including their moves to various parts of the American frontier, their struggles with disease and natural disasters, and their daily life as pioneers. The series includes titles such as 'Little House in the Big Woods,' 'Little House on the Prairie,' 'On the Banks of Plum Creek,' 'By the Shores of Silver Lake,' 'The Long Winter,' 'Little Town on the Prairie,' 'These Happy Golden Years,' and 'Farmer Boy,' which is about Almanzo Wilder, Laura's future husband.