AI effect

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The AI effect is a term for the tendency for individuals to discount advances in artificial intelligence after the fact. This discounting can come in the form of redefining in their minds what intelligent behaviour means.

[edit] Motivation

One motivation for the AI effect was suggested by Michael Kearns as "people subconsciously are trying to preserve for themselves some special role in the universe". By discounting artificial intelligence people can continue to feel unique and special. A related effect has been noted in the history of animal cognition and consciousness studies, where every time a capacity formerly thought as uniquely human is discovered in animals (e.g. the ability to make tools, or passing the mirror test), the importance of that capacity is deprecated.

[edit] See also

• History of artificial intelligence
• AI Winter

[edit] External links

• AI effect
• "If It Works, It's Not AI: A Commercial Look at Artificial Intelligence startups"