INQ-110 | Are Virtual Realities for Real?

Full Title: Are Virtual Realities for Real?

Topic Description:

Most futuristic, and sometimes even present-day, fictional scenarios involve computational devices with abilities far beyond what we actually see today. Often, these devices are artificially intelligent beings that can pass off as humans. In this course, we will encounter several such scenarios in our readings. Are such scenarios simply fantasy, or do they have the potential of becoming reality in the future? Is it possible to create an artificially intelligent being that is indistinguishable from a human being? We will learn as much as we can about computation to try and answer these questions.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: February 2009