Comments on: On the unambiguous usefulness of tools (in software and elsewhere) http://thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools "Now I feel like I know less about what that blog is about than I did before." Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:24:37 +0000 http://thetarpit.org hourly 1 By: spyked http://thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-7818 spyked Sun, 13 Sep 2026 15:30:55 +0000 http://wp.thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-7818 > With all the fancy AI algorithms, we still don't understand precisely why some of the tasks that seem so simple to us are mind-blowingly hard to program into a computer I think some computer scientists/philosophers call this "the frame problem". In short, the problem with computers is that they can only work upon and with structured symbols which we call "information", and not everything is reducible to that. For example spatial structures can be described as information, e.g. a wheel can be seen as a disc expressed in polar coordinates. But take other concepts, like, say, friendship, and you'll find out in short order that even the most advanced AI will have trouble describing it. Because it can't relate to it, 'cause simply put, you can't be friends with a computer, no matter how much you'll try. > With all the fancy AI algorithms, we still don't understand precisely why some of the tasks that seem so simple to us are mind-blowingly hard to program into a computer

I think some computer scientists/philosophers call this "the frame problem". In short, the problem with computers is that they can only work upon and with structured symbols which we call "information", and not everything is reducible to that. For example spatial structures can be described as information, e.g. a wheel can be seen as a disc expressed in polar coordinates. But take other concepts, like, say, friendship, and you'll find out in short order that even the most advanced AI will have trouble describing it. Because it can't relate to it, 'cause simply put, you can't be friends with a computer, no matter how much you'll try.

]]> By: Artificial intelligence « The Tar Pit http://thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-5105 Artificial intelligence « The Tar Pit Sun, 26 May 2024 21:33:52 +0000 http://wp.thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-5105 [...] being intelligent, is (gasp!) somewhat useful. It is useful first and foremost as a very imprecise tool for searching for links -- links in the more general sense of relations between words, not [...] [...] being intelligent, is (gasp!) somewhat useful. It is useful first and foremost as a very imprecise tool for searching for links -- links in the more general sense of relations between words, not [...]

]]> By: The Lost Tools of Learning, annotated « The Tar Pit http://thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-4155 The Lost Tools of Learning, annotated « The Tar Pit Sun, 07 May 2023 14:22:17 +0000 http://wp.thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-4155 [...] fact that they don't actually need computing machines for any fundamental purpose, that they are tools meant merely for the practical purpose of amplification and that whatever qualitative leap they [...] [...] fact that they don't actually need computing machines for any fundamental purpose, that they are tools meant merely for the practical purpose of amplification and that whatever qualitative leap they [...]

]]> By: On the power of words « The Tar Pit http://thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-366 On the power of words « The Tar Pit Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:11:06 +0000 http://wp.thetarpit.org/2016/on-the-unambiguous-usefulness-of-tools#comment-366 [...] as any other tool, hold no power by themselves. You need someone to sift through them and arrange them in the proper [...] [...] as any other tool, hold no power by themselves. You need someone to sift through them and arrange them in the proper [...]

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