The Limits of Computing

Amazing technological advances make it seem possible, and even likely, that in the future a computer could do most jobs more efficiently and accurately than a human. Is there anything a computer cannot be taught? It is already clear that a computer can be taught reason, because it functions through logic. A computer can also be taught natural language, as evidenced by IBM’s Watson. A computer can even be given biases that make it appear emotional. For example, training Watson involved a medical specialist teaching the computer which sites to trust. From an outsiders perspective, Watson was taught to be skeptical. It seems to me that a computer can be taught to at least mimic everything human except for one thing: a human can receive revelation from God. Unlike most information, revelation cannot be retrieved from the internet or observed from primary inputs like video or audio. Revelation isn't predictable and often it doesn't even seem reasonable. But, a human acting on revelations can always make better decisions than the best computer mankind will ever come up with.

The Digital Age

What word describes the digital age? I would pick exploration. I imagine that some people might find that strange. They might pick words such as change or scary. However, to me, these words are all effects of exploration. In the digital age, instead of exploring unknown continents, people explore ideas like what if a car had a built-in telephone? What makes the digital age unique is that many of our what-if questions can be tested through technology, even if it’s only a virtual reality. For example, a car with a built-in telephone can be tested using hardware, and a more abstract idea like living elves can be tested through an online game. This constant exploring and testing can lead to quick changes, like the spread of the smart phone or internet. The speed of the change and the change itself can both be scary. But the digital age was never about causing change or fear. Instead, the digital age was always about exploring.