Hi Roger,

Sc. 2.2 of your paper begins:

> Automation refers to the performance of a predetermined procedure, or to 
> response in predetermined ways to alternative stimuli.  It is observable in 
> humans, e.g. under hypnosis, and is designed-into many kinds of artefacts.
> 
> The rather different notion of autonomy means, in humans, the capacity for 
> independent decision and action.  It is associated with the notions of 
> consciousness, sentience, self-awareness, free will and 
> self-determination.echnology works.  We can reasonably describe driverless 
> "AI" as a system which does continual, very intensive, statistical analysis 
> of data from vehicle sensors in order to match patterns requiring specific 
> actions.

By way of contrast, a conscious human attaches meanings, values, and 
intentionality to their perceptions.  "The vehicle over there is a highly 
polished ute with lowered suspension, roll bars, and a young driver who is 
seething with impatience."  "The sign on the right warns of merged lanes 1Km 
ahead."  And so on...

I think this difference needs to be more widely appreciated.

-------
About the time in the late 60's when AI in practice became rule-based systems, 
DEC developed one for an English manufacturer of pies on a massive scale.  This 
company had an employee with an uncanny knack for forecasting the number of 
pies which should be baked.  He'd sniff the weather, consider what football 
matches were scheduled, and consult his intuition, but he unfortunately wished 
to retire.

DEC's rule-based system replaced his forecasts, and I understand it was quite 
successful.

Cheers,
David L.

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