The Positronic Brain
A loose and lively discussion on why computers aren't getting smarter, and what has to happen before they do.

INCREASINGLY CAPABLE COMPUTERS-CAN THEY "THINK?"

These increases in technology and bandwidth afford a new paradigm for scientific reporting, training, databases, and conferences. To rephrase Osler, the tools that we have can limit or expand our understanding. The scientific models available for describing the immense number of biochemical, genetic, and environmental interrelationships in the brain are still relatively primitive.
Another of the most challenging applications of computer science has been in the construction of a financial "nervous system." Most of the large supercomputers that are sold are for calculating and verifying financial transactions. When you put your credit card through a gas pump, grocery, or retail store card reader, it requires considerable computing power to simultaneously verify, approve, register, or deny the millions of simultaneous transactions. Financial transactions are driving much computer development. Networks are facilitating an unprecedented communication between these servers. I cannot help but think that the growing capabilities of these multiprocessing environments will one day let us simulate a few moments of human nervous system activity. JONATHAN R. MERRIL 1997
The title of the section is taken from the Robot series of books and short stories by Isaac Asimov.

I consider this quote by I. Asimov in 1974 most interesting:
And the interesting thing is that if we can get through the next thirty years, there's no reason why we can't enter into a kind of plateau which will see the human race last, perhaps, indefinitely...till it evolves into better things...and spread out into space indefinitely.
We have the choice here between nothing...and the virtually infinite.
And the nice thing about it is that you guys in the audience today, when I say guys I mean it in a general term embracing gals...when you guys in the audience today will still be barely middle-aged when you will know which choice has been made.

See, I've been so shrewd that I fixed it so that I was born in 1920.
Which means I'll be safely dead.

Before the crunch comes!
But you guys will see for yourself. I hope you see a world in which mankind has decided to be sane.

But I must say in all honesty that I figure that the chances are against it.

The audience regarded the statement as a jest, I don't. I'm too knowledgeable for that.