虚拟现实:比人工智能更深层次的纠结

Virtual Reality:More Deeply Confusing Than Artificial Intelligence

虚拟现实技术和人工智能虽都涉及到了计算机技术,但二者在哲学内涵方面的差异却不容忽视。若仿照人工智能论题的三分法,虚拟现实的工作目标可以被分为"强虚拟现实论题""弱虚拟现实论题"和"更弱人工智能论题"。通过对"更弱论题""弱论题"与"强论题"中的任何两个从属论题的比较,我们发现,在任何一个对子中,虚拟现实都会比人工智能遭遇到更多的技术乃至概念层面上的麻烦问题。同时,虚拟现实在技术伦理方面所遭遇的挑战也要比人工智能所面临的同类困难更为棘手。因此,对于目前虚拟现实技术的种种炒作,我们应持更为冷静的态度。

The technology of Virtual Reality （VR） is intended to replicate real environments via some software-generated realistic images, sounds and other sensations, whereas Artificial Intelligence （AI） is intended to realize or intimate intelligent behaviors by properly programming digital computers. Though both technologies are based on the information science, the distinctions between them concerning their goals, methodologies and philosophical assumptions cannot be ignored. Parallel to the trichotomy of Strong AI Thesis （namely, the claim that computers can have minds）, Weak AI Thesis （namely, the claim that computers can only intimate minds） and Weaker AI Thesis （namely, computers can only intimate minds to a certain degree）, one can also formulate a similar trichotomy of Strong VR Thesis （namely, the claim that the virtual environments can be real ones）, Weak VR Thesis （namely, the claim that the virtual environments can merely be real-like） and Weaker VR Thesis （namely, the claim that the virtual environments can merely be real-like to some degree）. Consequently, we will have the Strong AI/VR pair, Weak AI/VR pair, and the Weaker AI/VR pair. The author argues that in each pair, AI looks like a more promising project than its VR counterpart, and this observation will immediately lead us to the conclusion that VR is less feasible than AI in the long run. In addition, it will also be argued that the ethical after-effects brought by VR would be more serious than AI. Therefore, a cool-headed assessment of the impacts of VR is still needed even though its significance to national economy is undeniable.