Artificial Intelligence the Natural Way

03/02/2005

According to researchers at the University of Reading, some guy has developed a way of writing a computer program as a geometrical structure, rather than as a series of instructions. The ‘perspective simplex’, or Perspex, supposedly acts like a neural network; it is able to bridge gaps and continue running (and growing) even when it sustains considerable damage (unlike conventional programming where removal of running code is generally fatal).

Among other interesting properties, Perspex makes computer programs prone to injury, illness, and recovery just like a human being. I can see it now:

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hunt, but your transaction was not completed because the ATM switch has a cold today.”

Oh brave new world…

Thanks to reader Bil Kleb at NASA for sharing this info