Computer Power and Human Reason
Also known as Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation
Joseph Weizenbaum's 1976 argument that computers should not make important decisions.
At a glance
Key ideas
No machine judgment, Possible is not permissible
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Scholarly debate, Split with AI researchers
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- Weizenbaum argues that while artificial intelligence may be possible, computers should never be allowed to make important decisions, because they lack compassion and wisdom.
- He wrote it after seeing people attribute human qualities to his ELIZA program.
- Whether computers can perform a task is a different question from whether they should; defining tasks and their criteria is a human, creative act.
Why it matters
- It is a founding text of AI ethics and a lasting critique of handing human judgment to machines.
Key facts
Key ideas
Reception
Connections
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