perm filename ENGELB.1[LET,JMC] blob
sn#864720 filedate 1988-11-28 generic text, type C, neo UTF8
COMMENT ā VALID 00002 PAGES
C REC PAGE DESCRIPTION
C00001 00001
C00002 00002 \input jmclet
C00004 ENDMK
Cā;
\input jmclet
\jmclet
\address
Mr. Joseph Engelberger
Transitions Research Corporation
15 Great Pasture Road
Danbury, Connecticut 06810
\body
Dear Joe:
I agree with John Evans, and I don't think Woolsey's
latest letter provides information that would change that
judgment. The illusion that one has solved the AI problem
with only a few details left to be worked out isn't so rare.
I've suffered from it myself from time to time.
There is nothing obviously wrong with the ideas
expressed in his letter. It's just that the difficulties
remain. There is also nothing impossible about the
proposition that the AI problem will be solved by some
young genius with different ideas from the rest of us.
It is a lot less likely, though not impossible, that
it will be done by someone who isn't very familiar with
previous work.
I don't know his situation. Obviously the Artificial
Minds Company doesn't have even one employee or he couldn't
be talking about \$2,000. However, if conversation indicates
that he might be worth talking too, an offer of a summer job
if he's a student might be appropriate.
\closing
Sincerely and Best Regards,
John McCarthy
Professor
\endletter
\end