Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryCreativity

ai-driven-creative-content-generation-stockpack-adobe-stock-815478900-stockpack-adobestock
AI-Driven Creative Content Generation

AI Large Language Models: Real Intelligence or Creative Thievery?

AI lacks originality because it cannot originate. It can only borrow. This is as true of impressive chatbots (large language models or LLMS) as of all other types
The real danger lies not in what AI can do, but in forgetting what only humans can do. Read More ›
big-ideas-illuminated-light-bulb-among-the-rest-of-the-unlit-439566498-stockpack-adobestock
Big ideas. Illuminated light bulb among the rest of the unlit bulbs.

Can Evolutionary Processes Take Credit for Human Creativity?

Does the evolution of brain chemistry simply explain novels, speeches, and innovative ideas?
The genius of the human mind requires an external, intelligent source beyond the material world. Read More ›
man-choosing-which-hamburger-to-eat-from-fast-food-restauran-316623591-stockpack-adobe_stock
Man choosing which hamburger to eat from fast food restaurant

A New McDonald’s PlayPlace Doesn’t Look Very Fun

A virtual playground doesn't offer kids genuine play
Hopefully the McDonald’s corporation will realize that the PlayPlace is a big part of what makes its restaurants so appealing. Read More ›
facade-of-grand-central-terminal-at-twilight-in-new-york-sto-73869599-stockpack-adobe_stock
Facade of Grand Central Terminal at twilight in New York

Monday Micro Softy 14: How Did the Blind Ticket Seller Know?

This puzzle doesn’t require math skills so much as advanced common sense reasoning
About last week’s solution, given here: If you code, the second part of the puzzle could also be offered to a computer. Read More ›
leather-dice-cup-and-dice-on-the-table-rolling-all-sixes-wit-840329549-stockpack-adobe_stock
Leather dice cup and dice on the table, rolling all sixes with 5 dice representing gambling and luck

The Monday Micro Softy 10: The Monte Hall Problem

In this case, it comes down to: How badly do you want a goat in your life?
Probability problems typically come down to analyzing the choices carefully and picking the most promising one. Read More ›
big-ideas-illuminated-light-bulb-among-the-rest-of-the-unlit-439566498-stockpack-adobe_stock
Big ideas. Illuminated light bulb among the rest of the unlit bulbs.

Only in America

My discussion on this week’s podcast with Major General Bobby Hollingsworth (ret.) prompts a look at some of the many people that America has freed to be their best
Despite our different faiths, my Muslim colleague Mohamed El-Sharkawi was a steadfast ally and when his mosque was defaced post 9-11, Christians protected it. Read More ›
machine-learning-artificial-intelligence-ai-deep-learning-blockchain-neural-network-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Machine learning , artificial intelligence, ai, deep learning blockchain neural network concept.

The Man Behind the First Billion-Dollar AI Business

Robert Hecht-Nielsen (1947‒2019) was a significant figure in the second wave of AI. His company specialized in fraud detection
He led a full life marked by remarkable achievements but he also had a near-death experience that transformed him spiritually. Read More ›
white-pickup-truck-driving-down-dusty-dirt-road-with-fall-le-183998657-stockpack-adobe_stock
White pickup truck driving down dusty dirt road with fall leaves and dust behind

Micro Softy 5: The Puzzle of Claude and Chloe’s Two Kids

Also, here’s the answer to the puzzle of how, twelve years earlier, Claude escaped the trap Clifton Clowers set for him, so he could marry Chloe
Puzzle: We learn that one of Claude and Chloe's two children is a boy. With a 50–50 ratio, what chance is there that the other child is a boy too? Read More ›
photorealistic-church-celebration-in-small-country-church-wi-1082807248-stockpack-adobe_stock
Photorealistic Church celebration in small country church with wooden pews, children holding baskets

Monday Micro Softy 4: Claude King Bests Clifton Clowers

Clowers offers Claude two slips of paper to choose from on a blind choice: marriage or death...
Claude's sweetheart Chloe warns him that, in reality, both slips say "death." He says never mind. So how did he escape death and marry her? Read More ›
northern-woodland-scenery-viewed-from-above-with-green-pine-730320438-stockpack-adobe_stock
Northern woodland scenery, viewed from above, with green pine forest and dark spruce trees on mountain hills.

Monday Micro Softy 3: The Wolverton Mountain Puzzle

Here’s the answer to Dead President’s Club as well — and smart STEM people often DON'T get that one right

Mind Matters News is pleased to offer a new series, “Monday Micro Softies,” from our director, Robert J. Marks, a series of puzzles that illustrate the ways of thinking needed in the computer industry today. – Eds. Here’s today’s puzzle, in honor of Claude King, followed by the solution to last Monday’s puzzle, The Dead Presidents Club. In 1962, King recorded the song Wolverton Mountain. It’s the story of Claude’s love of Clifton Clowers’ daughter — we’ll call her Chloe — who lives on the top of Wolverton Mountain. (Listen here.) It’s a catchy tune. Here’s a puzzle augmenting the song’s story: Claude starts climbing to the top of Wolverton Mountain at 6 AM. There is only one road, and Read More ›

robot-hand-typing-on-the-computer-the-concept-of-artificial-intelligence-replacing-a-human-in-dealing-with-another-human-ai-generative-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot hand typing on the computer. The concept of artificial intelligence replacing a human in dealing with another human. Ai generative

Bill Dembski: When a Chatbot Tried Improving on a Literary Genius

If what matters is computer engineering and a supermassive databank, the chatbot should improve on the masters, right?
Information theorist Dembski thinks that the statistical averages that bots depend on mean they will necessarily regress to the mean and result in mediocrity. Read More ›
scales-of-justice-in-the-dark-court-hall-law-concept-of-judi-565093915-stockpack-adobe_stock
Scales of Justice in the dark Court Hall. Law concept of Judiciary, Jurisprudence and Justice. Copy space. Based on Generative AI

Jason Allen’s Battle With AI Copyright Law

There is no doubt that this commitment warrants a copyright. Allen used Midjourney as a tool and not as the source of his creativity.
The only solution I can see to the AI copyright problem is to verify that numerous highly detailed prompts were used to create an image. Read More ›
smart-robotic-farmers-concept-robot-farmers-agriculture-tech-467058395-stockpack-adobe_stock
Smart robotic farmers concept, robot farmers, Agriculture technology, Farm automation.

Computer Prof: Handing Off Risky Operations to AI Would Be Stupid

When everything went wrong in Space Odyssey 2001, the cause was faulty programming, not the computer deciding to take over, he says.
When everything went wrong in Space Odyssey 2001, the cause was faulty programming, not the computer deciding to take over, he says. Read More ›
chatbot-assistant-ai-artificial-intelligence-stockpack-adobe-331487364-stockpack-adobe_stock
Chatbot assistant, Ai Artificial Intelligence

Computer ‘Creativity’ Is Simply Digital Plagiarism

One outcome is many lawsuits against generative AI companies whose programs snatch and use copyrighted material
As radio host Mark Davis put it recently, “ultimately everything AI does is go in search of something that some human being said or wrote sometime.” Read More ›
collapsed-building-stockpack-adobe-stock
collapsed building

AI Going MAD? The Model Collapse Problem Gets More Attention Now

The problem is that the AI can't generate anything new on its own and the old stuff, endlessly recycled at high speeds, begins to erode
If human involvement is minimized, this hard limit will probably come up time and again. Computation is not creativity. Read More ›
text-written-with-a-vintage-typewriter-thats-my-story-stockpack-adobe-stock
Text written with a vintage typewriter -  That's my story

How Do Writers Get Paid in an Age When Chatbots “Write” Things?

Are lawsuits against Big Tech really the answer? Much of the territory is uncharted
A few Big Tech players control the chatbot market. Could bargaining with them for something like Public Lending Right resolve the writers' issues? Read More ›
hacker-cat-working-job-profession-illustration-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
hacker cat working job profession illustration generative ai

Generative AI Is Creating a Copyright Crisis for Artists

How does an artist assert copyright when her image was only one of many used to create a new image? How does she make a living if she can’t?
AI companies could be required to record images’ origin and compensate copyright holders. But as Robert J. Marks notes, end users might then have to pay. Read More ›
hand-touching-digital-chatbot-for-provide-access-to-information-and-data-in-online-network-robot-application-and-global-connection-ai-artificial-intelligence-innovation-and-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
Hand touching digital chatbot for provide access to information and data in online network, robot application and global connection, AI, Artificial intelligence, innovation and technology.

What Chatbots Have Achieved, and What They Haven’t — and Can’t

Chatbots (LLMs) succeeded where the older expert systems I used to work on failed but that does not mean that they are creative
An LLM generating a connection new to us, is not acting creatively. It is throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what we let stick. Read More ›
robot-hand-displays-blue-digital-interface-wearing-blue-suit-and-helmet-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot hand displays blue digital interface, wearing blue suit and helmet.

How Materialism Handicaps Us in Understanding AI’s Limits

Sabine Hossenfelder acknowledges AI’s limits, yet she is convinced that it will become conscious
Such a position is not something the materialist derives from the evidence; it is imposed by the ideology. Read More ›