One of the greatest science-fiction ideas Lem depicted in his novels was for sure Golem XIV. He described there a supercomputer outfitted with AI algorithm far exceeding our intelligence. The language Golem XIV uses is very strange and complicated, but of course it was intended and was to emphasize his superiority.
Of course AI hasn't been yet discovered, so Lem's idea is still valid. This is absolutely the best book on artificial intelligence I read, and since I didn't read any other on AI, it must be the best....
Hold on! I just recalled HALL 9000 was very nicely described in 2001 (by A.C. Clarke). Nevertheless Golem XIV is a lot better, 'coz AI wasn't the main plot of Clarke's novel.
OK, but seriously Lem's novel is really good. The author shows the supercomputer to be nearly a God to us, because it's so unique and smart. On the other hand, despite his divine features, Golem XIV had a problem talking to us, 'coz his perception, intelligence, general and detailed knowledge were so radically better then ours, then when he was talking to us, it was for him like talking to kids. I like the part of the book where Golem XIV is trying to explain why talking to us (humans) is so problematic. One of his dreams was to get in touch with another AI computer - Honest Annie (he finally got his chance). Annie was considered to be the only computer on a similar level of development that Golem was.
Lem presumed in his novel, that modern computers would utilize light. We know now, that future computers will be the photonic ones. There are already some prototypes but the exact date of a massive production has not been yet stated. So Lem was right, that photonic computers will be the most efficient ones and they probably be used as first AI machines.
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