One of the seminal insights into the nature of artificial intelligence

Question

One of the seminal insights into the nature of artificial intelligence was articulated by Hans Moravec in the 1980s. Moravec noted that although machines excel at abstract cognitive tasks that to people signify intelligence, machines struggle with simple, physical jobs mastered easily by humans, even very young children. He explained the paradox as a result of evolutionary selection, where the oldest skills, such as perception and sensorimotor skills, have been honed over hundreds of millions of years, while abstract reasoning skills are less than 100 million years old. "Moravec's paradox" explains why computers can prevail over humans in complex games such as chess, go, or shogi but cannot efficiently negotiate a cluttered room.

Yamakawa is attempting to overcome Moravec's paradox by using deep learning to develop an artificial general intelligence through a "whole-brain architecture" in which each part of the brain is modeled in a machine-learning module and then individual modules are integrated to create a cognitive architecture. Yamakawa identifies two advantages to this approach. First, he believes that artificial intelligence developed in this way could incorporate the same behaviors and values as those of humans and that, therefore, communications and interactions between humans and machines would be facilitated. Second, a collaborative software platform that mimics the structure of the brain would both allow developers to contribute to the project as neuroscience evolves and protect the artificial general intelligence from becoming a proprietary project.

Despite Yamakawa's sanguine view, Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and other experts past and present in computing, technology, and ethics have urged caution. Hawking summed up the concern: "In short, the rise of powerful AI will be either the best, or the worst thing, ever to happen to humanity. We do not yet know which." The resolution of Moravec's paradox may introduce enigmas of much greater consequence.   
 1 
 E 
  1. With which of the following statements about the current state of developments in neuroscience would Yamakawa likely agree?

A. Neuroscience research has enabled accurate computer modeling of all brain functions by way of whole-brain architecture.
B. Yamakawa's whole-brain architecture will allow neuroscientists to improve their understanding of the human brain.
C. Modern neuroscience cannot yet describe brain functions well enough to enable any accurate modeling of human brain activity by computers. 
D. Modern neuroscience's understanding of the brain is not sufficient for the successful construction of a whole-brain architecture.
E. While neuroscience can provide valuable guidance in constructing a whole-brain architecture, further progress is expected.

2 
 B 
 2. Which of the following if true would most clearly undermine the Yamakaw's explanation if advantages of developing an artificial general intelligence through a whole brain architecture?

A. Several other prominent experts in modern technology and ethics have recently published letters aligning themselves with the views of 
 Gates, Musk and Hawking.
B. As more people from different cultures interact with computers, the number of possible behavioral responses becomes too great to be 
 accurately predicted.
C. Collaborative software programs have not been used effectively in many fields of study.
D. Existing successful collaborative software platforms are not as extensive, or as influential, as an artificial general intelligence would be.
E. Moravec has read some of the Yamakaw's research and is highly critical of Yamakaw's ideas.

3 
 D 
 3. According to the passage, which of the following describes a reason why young children may be able to accomplish some tasks more efficiently and accurately than robots?

A. Machine learning is not subject to evolutionary pressure, as is human learning.
B. Computers will never be able to evaluate complicated inputs, such as room littered learning with objects, as quickly as humans.
C. Machines cannot be distracted or interrupted as easily as children can.
D. Manipulating the physical world is a skill that emerged in human experience much earlier than analytical skill.
E. Complicated games such as chess and shogi can be broken down into more basics patterns that can be applied by computers.

4 
 C 
 4. According to the passage, each of the following is true of artificial intelligence except:

A. It struggles with some tasks as human would consider trivial.
B. It may be to mimic human ethical decision making.
C. It will be an overall benefit to the overall society.
D. It may be able to communicate directly with humans.
E. It may have a structure that imitates human brain function.

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CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

This is an inference-based question. Based on the information in the passage about Yamakawa’s views on the developments in neuroscience, we are trying to identify a view that Yamakawa would agree with.

The passage states “Yamakawa is attempting to overcome Moravec's paradox by using deep learning to develop an artificial general intelligence through a "whole-brain architecture" in which each part of the brain is modeled in a machine-learning module and then individual modules are integrated to create a cognitive architecture.

The passage also states that Yamakawa sees two benefits to this approach:
• He believes that artificial intelligence developed in this manner could incorporate human behaviour and thus bring about a better interaction between machines and humans. 
• He also believes that such a collaborative platform that resembles the structure of the brain would allow different people to contribute to the project and prevent it from becoming exclusive to one person or entity.

The passage describes Yamakawa’s view as sanguine, which means optimistic. An understanding of the fact that Yamakawa believes that the structure of the brain can be simulated and that this simulation would facilitate more contributions to knowledge about the brain and neuroscience helps us eliminate Options C and D. Both these options are negative as they state that neuroscience is not yet developed enough to allow successful modelling of the brain structure. However, it is clear from the passage that Yamakawa is trying to overcome Moravec’s paradox by developing artificial intelligence through a whole-brain structure.  So, Options C and D can be ruled out.

Option B takes only part of Yamakawa’s idea. He believes that a collaborative platform will help neuroscience evolve. However, Option B only states that the whole-brain architecture will improve neuroscientists’ understanding of the brain. Yamakawa, on the other hand, emphasizes the idea that neuroscience will evolve because of people’s contributions to it.  Since Option B overlooks a vital point, it can be eliminated.

Option A is an extreme option as it talks about “an accurate computer modelling of all brain functions”. Yamakawa believes that a model can be built but his focus is on the idea that the model will improve the understanding of the brain and that various people can contribute to this understanding.  So, Option A also can be eliminated.

The very basis of Yamakawa’s views is that the model of the whole-brain structure will further the understanding of the brain and help to evolve neuroscience.  So, Option E is correct.

Jayanthi Kumar.

PrachiMaloo · Answer

Can anyone explain question 3, please!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. According to the passage, which of the following describes a reason why young children may be able to accomplish some tasks more efficiently and accurately than robots?

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Analyze the question stem

The keyword phrase  "according to the passage"  identifies this as a Detail question. The correct answer will be stated in the passage.

Research the relevant text

The comparison between the performance of young children and computers is found in the first paragraph that defines Moravec's paradox. The second sentence makes the comparison, and the third sentence provides an explanation. Reread that section.

Make a prediction

The second sentence identifies  "simple, physical jobs"  as the type of task children could perform better than computers could. The third sentence states that,  "the oldest skills, such as perception and sensorimotor skills, have been honed over hundreds of millions of years, while abstract reasoning skills are less than 100 million years old."  Predict that the correct answer will explain human proficiency in physical tasks by the extensive period of time those skills have been used by humans.

Evaluate the answer choices

(D)  matches the prediction and is correct. Children can be better than robots at simple, physical tasks because natural selection has refined the skills needed for those tasks over many more years than the skills needed for abstract reasoning.

While  (A)  may be true in real life, the passage only discusses evolutionary pressures as they relate to the evolution of human skills, not machine learning.

(B)  is extreme. While it is true that machines now struggle with negotiating a cluttered room, the passage does not describe the difficulty as one of  "complicated inputs,"  nor does it state that machines will "never" be able to do so.

(C)  and  (E)  are 180, or opposite, choices that provide explanations of why machines might be better as some tasks than children, not why children might outperform machines.

Answer: D

TAKEAWAY:  The correct answer to a Detail question will be stated in the passage, although the correct answer may use different
words to express the idea.

IanStewart · Answer

Q3 is based only on the first paragraph, which tells us that AI is good at abstract reasoning, but is not good at "simple, physical jobs" involving "perception and sensorimotor skills", things "even very young children" can sometimes do. The passage gives an example of such a task: 'efficiently negotiating a cluttered room'.

So we want to know, from the passage, a reason an AI is not able to do something like find its way around a messy room, but why a child might be. The passage explains this in terms of evolution: humans have been working on (by evolving) these skills for "hundreds of millions of years". Humans haven't been evolving their abstract reasoning skills for nearly as long. So perhaps from that perspective it makes sense that these sensorimotor skills are harder (or take longer) to develop, and thus would be harder for an AI to "learn".

Looking at the answers to Q3, you can rule out B, C and E immediately, since they aren't even mentioned in the passage (the passage doesn't discuss how quickly AI will, in future, be able to evaluate complex inputs, nor how easily AI is distracted, nor how easy it is to break chess down into discrete steps). Answer A is a bit tempting, because it mentions the evolutionary justification from the passage. But it frames the explanation incorrectly. We have no idea from the passage whether "machine learning is subject to evolutionary pressure" (it certainly could be, in the sense that evolutionary pressures could be simulated to refine an AI). But answer A misses the point anyway, since all human skills developed through evolution, whether we're talking about sensorimotor skills or abstract reasoning skills. If an AI were unable to emulate a human skill that developed because of evolution, an AI wouldn't be able to do anything, including the abstract reasoning we know an AI can do. The point is that sensorimotor skills took longer to develop than abstract reasoning. So D is the right answer here.

Aasthabalar · Answer

explaination for question no. 2

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. Which of the following if true would most clearly undermine the Yamakaw's explanation if advantages of developing an artificial general intelligence through a whole brain architecture?

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

Analyze the question stem

The keyword  "undermines"  identifies this as a Weaken question. Paraphrase Yamakawa's explanation of the advantages of using a  "whole-brain architecture."

Research the relevant text

Yamakawa's proposal is found in the second paragraph, and the advantages are found in the third and fourth sentences of that paragraph. Yamakawa believes a  "whole-brain architecture"  would  (1)  make it easier for humans to interact with computers,  (2)  be able to be modified as more is learned, and  (3)  prevent the artificial general intelligence from being controlled by a single entity.

Make a prediction

The correct answer will provide information that will make one of Yamakawa's three advantages less likely to occur. Examine the choices for a reason that humans won't interact easily with computers, the model won't be easily modified, or that the artificial general intelligence is likely to become proprietary.

Evaluate the answer choices

(B)  matches the prediction and is correct. If "artificial intelligence developed in this way ... incorporated the same behaviors and values as those of humans" but the machine would eventually find the number of potential behaviors too many to calculate, then this advantage would not be as great asYamakawa believes.

(A)  and  (E)  are not related to Yamakawa's explanation of the benefits of developing an artificial general intelligence through a  "whole-brain architecture."  Even though other experts may agree that there may be dangers in further development of artificial intelligence  (A) , the opinions stated in the text do not address Yamakawa's advantages. Similarly, Moravec may be critical of Yamakawa's ideas  (E) , but nothing in the passage indicates that this criticism is directed toward the advantages Yamakawa cites.

(C)  is not relevant to Yamakawa's argument. If collaborative software programs haven't yet found many uses, that could be because they do not  "mimic the structure of the brain"  in the way that Yamakawa's proposed technology will do. Yamakawa is proposing a new development that may bring about new benefits.

(D)  is an irrelevant comparison. The larger size and greater influence of the artificial general intelligence as compared to existing collaborative software platforms is not mentioned as an advantage of the  "whole-brain architecture."

Answer: B

TAKEAWAY:  A weakener or a strengthener must directly affect the terms of the argument.

One of the seminal insights into the nature of artificial intelligence

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One of the seminal insights into the nature of artificial intelligence

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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