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C00002 00002	garn[s84,jmc]		Statement to Senator Garn about AI in space
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garn[s84,jmc]		Statement to Senator Garn about AI in space

Dear Senator Garn:

	We have been asked to comment on proposals that NASA be obliged
by Congress to rely heavily on artificial intelligence in the operation
of the space station scheduled for the early 1990s.  It might be hoped
that this would provide a "forcing function" causing AI to advance
more rapidly than it otherwise will.

	We are enthusiasts for the applications of artificial intelligence
and also remotely controlled robots in space.  They can potentially
greatly extend the human capability in this strange environment.
We believe that NASA should vigorously explore these possibilities.
It is probably desirable to include in the equipment of the space
station a robot that can with an analog of the astronaut's maneuvering
unit and allows both remote manual control and built-in automatic
control.  As AI programming advances and as NASA develops experience
in its use, we believe that such devices will become capable of doing
the work of many astronauts at lower cost and danger.  For a long time
it will be necessary, however, to provide human intervention capability
when the programming turns out to be not quite right or unanticipated
situations occur beyond the robot's ability to deal with the unanticipated.

	Unfortunately, the state of the art of artificial intelligence
programming and also the mechanical and electrical design of robots
are not advanced enough to justify imposing a requirement that they
be relied on for specific tasks in the early 1990s.  A commitment
to do this is likely to cause expensive delays when the designs
of programs prove inadequate and hardware proves inadequate.

	Two of us have been researchers in AI for more than 30 years
and all three are enthusiasts for AI.
Therefore, we regret having to say this.

Sincerely,

Robert Jastrow, Professor of Earth Science, Dartmouth College
John McCarthy, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University
	(President, American Association for Artificial Intelligence)
Marvin Minsky, Donner Professor of Science, M.I.T.
	(former President, American Association for Artificial Intelligence)