s, in answering the question "Can a computer lie?," the answer is clearly, no, not at this time. Of course, it is possible that a present-day computer could be programmed to lie; however, on its own, a computer lacks the necessary self-awareness and desire to have the motivation to commit such an act. Yet, I have to agree with the idea that anything may be possible in the future. Even Mortimer J. Adler, while arguing in favor of the immateriality of intelligence, admits that "the present difference in the degree of structural complexity between the human brain and that of artificial intelligence machines can certainly be overcome in the future." Perhaps the AI advocates like Alan Turing, Allen Newell and Herbert Simon will eventually be proved to be right. Perhaps future computers will be programmed to imitate human intelligence so well that androids will begin to act like humans in emotional and intuitive ways. If that happens, then, as in the case of "artificial light," it will no longer be possible for people to distinguish between a human mind and artificial mind. It is even possible that machines may someday learn to duplicate themselves. If that happens, it is possible that computers will evolve over time as they learn to adapt to the environment. One of the things that computers would probably acquire is human-like emotion, because these would help them in their successful adaptation, just as they have helped human beings in the same way. At that time, it would certainly be possible for a computer to lie in order to gain its "selfish" ends, just as a human is capable of doing now. The idea of a computer of the future lying is really not too far-fetched. This is true, even if such a computer were still less intelligent than an average adult human. After all, children and even pet animals are capable of practicing deceit on one level or another in order to get something that they want out of a parent or master. The m...
