they attempt to create machines that learn rather than machines that must be programmed. It has become the hope of many engineers that the "mechanisms of human thought could be precisely modeled and simulated on a computer". This is known as Artificial Intelligence(Artificial 3). Artificial Intelligence, or AI, since its conception, has grown from a dozen researchers, to thousands of engineers and specialists; from programs capable of playing checkers, to systems designed to diagnose disease(Dumm 4). With all that the computer is learning now a new question arises: How long before a computer can learn to understand and execute the attributes of a good sense of humor?It is believed that the theory of AI has existed long before recorded, but was not made conceivable until the invention of the electronic computer in 1941(Dreyfus 6). Since then many scientists and engineers have been working on a way to make the computer more human. Once it was noticed that the computer could perform simple tasks such as mathematical problems and memory recall much faster than humans the idea began that they should become more like us(Beale 2). However after almost sixty years scientists have still not been able to create AI in the sense that they had hoped. Even the Intelligence that they have given computers, which at the time was considered a triumph in reaching towards AI, is no longer considered valid(Kurzweil 14-16). This includes such "simple" machines as intelligent chess boards and other programs for elementary games. In the mid 1960s, however, Marvin Minsky created and interactive computer program that many believed to be Artificial Intelligence. Though Minsky was even doubtful of his achievement another scientist, Joseph Weizenbaum, quickly stepped forward with an even stronger representation of AI. This new program was called Eliza and was able to imitate a nondirective therapist. This form of AI was extremely believable to those...
