Intelligent Tools: The Cornerstone of a New Civilization

The following article briefly describes the developments of tools and knowledge in human history and states that these two phenomena co-exist only in intelligent tools. It focusses on the productive merits of the past intelligent tools and discusses the social and biohuman). Moreover, since human beings were unable to produce an intelligent tool capable of outperforming man’ as a tool, the technological basis of slavery continued to persist throughout history. The article then examines the current achievements of computer technology in producing intelligent tools It argues that the production of intelligent tools makes it possible to bypass the social and natural limztatzons of all past intelligent tools. Once these tools outperform humans as intelligent tools, man will no longer be indispensable as a production tool. Consequently, the inception of these new tools eradicates the technological basis of the subjugation of man by man. This eradication may start a new civilization by effecting higher human intelligence, more economic wealth and greater socio-political freedom in man’s future society. Tools and Tool-making in History Although anthropologists have different appraisals of the role of tools in the evolution of primates, they are unanimous in recognizing tool-making as the most important differentiation of our ancestors from other primates. Making tools enabled us to pursue our intentions with means separate from our bodies. Tools, in contrast to our limbs, could develop apart from the life and death of every inlThc masculine expressions in this article were used only as generic terms Although we would prefer to eliminate even their generic use, we found it very difficult to edit the article on this account. Please pardon us if any unintentional bias has ensued dividual member of our species, thus handing down the fruits of past productive activities to new generations. Other animals occasionally use natural objects as tools, but their tools do not develop very far beyond the form or state of their natural source. Man-made tools, on the other hand, have become more and more discernible from natural objects as we have moved away from the animal kingdom. The reason lies in the preconditions of our species prior to tool-making. The articulation and mental capabilities of our ancestors were mature enough to spawn human intelligence and language. As both tool-making and communication were social activities, advances in one reciprocally affected the progress in the other. Thus, being a social animal, man’s higher form of communication between individuals (2. e., language) evolved alongside tool-making. Language made possible the retention and transfer of human knowledge apart from and independent of the life and death of individuals. In this way, knowledge could be transferred from one generation to another by a means other than genetic heredity. The advent of writing also enhanced the linguistic transfer of knowledge. Spoken language conveyed knowledge via memory, habits, expertise, and cultural assimilation; whereas written language made knowledge transferable in greater detail and exactness, and less dependent on particular moods of individuals, i.e., more objective.2 We are indebted to the many individuals whose fruitful criticisms improved this paper: William Clancey, whose reflections on an earlier draft spurred us to clarify some elusive passages; and Robert Engelmore, whose editorial comments were also cogent and well-founded. Nonetheless, we are solely responsible for this final manuscript. We acknowledge the controversial nature of our article and hope it kindles further discussion and debate from our readers 2Tools, language, and writing strengthened human abstract thought. Mathematics and tools to perform mathematical operations (i e , a type of mental work) are found very early in human history-maybe 102 THE AI MAGAZINE Fall, 1985 AI Magazine Volume 6 Number 3 (1985) (© AAAI)