Introducing Artificial Intelligence (Henry Brighton and Howard Selina) / quote 44 of 68
Bateson: what thinks is a total circuit
“We used to argue whether a machine could think. The answer is, ‘No’. What thinks is a total circuit, including perhaps a computer, a man, and an environment. Similarly, we may ask whether a brain can think, and again the answer will be, ‘No’. What thinks is a brain inside a man who is part of a system which includes an environment.” – Gregory Bateson This observation has led to the adoption of a new set of principles. This new orientation is not yet fully-fledged – it lacks a commonly used name, but is often termed New AI.