Manufacturing Empire in the Valley

Chapter 1486 Niu Xiaoqiang's Arguments on Intelligent Programs

Watson curled his lips and said disdainfully: "According to the news reports in the newspaper, the intelligent program launched by Stanford University is very good at playing chess, especially chess. It is said that even the world-class chess master is not the opponent of this intelligent program. What do you say?" Tell me, is it useful to know how to play chess? How can our intelligent robot be practical?"

Niu Xiaoqiang shook his head slightly: "Theoretically speaking, it is indeed the intelligent robot we developed that is more practical, but from the actual situation, the application range of intelligent programs will be broader."

What Niu Xiaoqiang said actually touches on a current debate in the computer world: Is software more important or hardware more important?

Computer manufacturers led by IBM and some computer professors support the latter. They believe that hardware is the key to determining computer performance, and software is only a tool to assist hardware work, which is not very important.

Theoreticians, represented by some university computer professors, believe that the result is just the opposite. In the future world, software will dominate. The job of hardware is to cooperate with software as much as possible to make software perform better.

Professor Watson is a supporter of hardware, and he showed curiosity when he heard this: "Can you tell me your reason in detail?"

The professor has always attached great importance to Niu Xiaoqiang's words, so even though Niu Xiaoqiang stood on the opposite side of him in the hardware and software dispute, the professor was not unhappy, but asked for advice humbly.

Niu Xiaoqiang said with a smile: "If we regard computers as human beings, then the software is equivalent to the human mind, and the hardware is equivalent to the human body. To be honest, the two are actually in a cooperative relationship and should not exist. Who is superior and who is inferior, but the actual situation is not the case, professor, you think about it carefully, is it a strong body or an excellent mind that really promotes the development of human society?"

Professor Watson fell into deep thought when he heard this, and Niu Xiaoqiang continued: "To use a Chinese saying, many people have a strong body, but excellent minds have always existed only in a few people. It is precisely the outstanding ideas of these few people that can promote the continuous progress of human society, so it is not difficult to see the importance of ideas, and by extension, I personally think that software is more important.”

Professor Watson has actually accepted Niu Xiaoqiang's point of view. It is a little difficult for him to accept that Massachusetts Institute of Technology has finally made a splash in the field of intelligence, but in the end it was seized by Stanford University.

He sighed, and said with a bitter face: "So our development direction is wrong? Stanford University is the leader in the field of intelligence?"

Niu Xiaoqiang is very aware of the grievances between Professor Watson and his senior Robert and Stanford University. These two people are his great help in the computer field. To help them out, Niu Xiaoqiang said with a smile: "Professor, don't be depressed, just I'm going out and I'm going to embarrass Stanford."

Professor Watson was beaming. He never doubted what Niu Xiaoqiang said. Since Niu Xiaoqiang said so, he was sure of it.

What he was curious about was how Niu Xiaoqiang planned to combat the arrogance of Stanford University's computer department: "Xiaoqiang, how are you going to do it?"

Niu Xiaoqiang showed a confident expression: "Didn't they develop an intelligent program that will be very powerful in the next period? It is said that it can beat world-renowned chess masters. I just don't believe in this evil, and I am going to meet it." This set of intelligent programs, let’s see if it’s the best, or I’m the best.”

Even though Professor Watson knew that Niu Xiaoqiang was a genius for a long time, when he heard Niu Xiaoqiang's declaration of challenge, he still showed concern: "Xiaoqiang, I know you are a genius, but why are you a genius? It is still made of flesh and blood. In the final analysis, chess is actually about computing power. When it comes to computing power, how can the human brain be an opponent of a computer? Listen to the teacher's advice, don't be brave, okay?"

Hearing this, Niu Xiaoqiang couldn't help laughing and said: "Professor, do you have no confidence in me? Yes, the computing power of a computer is indeed unmatched by the human brain, but that refers to the large-scale instantaneous computing In addition to strong computing power, playing chess requires very rigorous logical thinking. It’s not that I look down on Stanford University. Their programming level is just like that. I can even quickly find the loopholes in the programs written by my seniors. I don’t believe that I can’t find the program loopholes of those guys, as long as I find the loopholes, I can win how I want.”

Niu Xiaoqiang's remarks express the essence of intelligent programs. To put it bluntly, an intelligent program is still a program. As long as it is a program, there must be loopholes.Niu Xiaoqiang's programming level is far superior to those at Stanford University, so it is impossible for him not to find the logical loopholes in the opponent's program. It is not a problem for Niu Xiaoqiang to defeat this intelligent program.

After hearing Niu Xiaoqiang's words, Professor Watson showed hesitation on his face: "Although you said that, are you too confident? What if you fail to find the other party's program loopholes in a short time and lose It must be you."

Niu Xiaoqiang smiled wryly and sighed: "Professor, it's almost time to get off work anyway, why don't we call Robert up and chat while eating, I believe he will give a fairer judgment on my plan."

Watson nodded: "Okay, I'll clean up my sensible right now."

Without much effort, Watson packed up the papers and went downstairs with Niu Xiaoqiang to find Big Robert.Then the three of them took a car and came to a Chinese restaurant.

During dinner, Professor Watson told Big Robert that Niu Xiaoqiang was going to fight against the Stanford University's intelligent program, and asked Big Robert for his opinion.

Big Robert immediately revealed a look of disdain after hearing this: "I'm just too lazy to learn chess, otherwise I can beat their intelligent program even if I go out on the stage. Hmph, those people's level is not high, but their tone is not small. Calling the program you write an intelligent program is really ridiculous!"

Big Robert's computer skills are comparable to Niu Xiaoqiang's. If Niu Xiaoqiang studies carefully, he will definitely be better than Big Robert. However, he has too many things to do and doesn't have time to study hard.

Big Robert also has a big shortcoming, which is called laziness, otherwise, if he is willing to work hard, he will definitely be able to surpass Niu Xiaoqiang's current computer skills.

(End of this chapter)