Kurtzweil Book

[jporter]

>Regarding The Age of Spiritual Machines,
>        I received a few replies to my query about the book concerning
>caveats. Some were quite critical without much explanation. I have no
>basis for knowing whether or not the author understands the technology of
>the time, or even earlier times. Can someone enlighten me as to why the
>author is so off in his writing, either through a kind, long email, or
>through a pointer to other info? Thanks and happy new years,
>
>                                                Graham

Excellent critique of the book in the NYRB, by my one time hero, John R. Searle:

http://www.nybooks.com/nyrev/WWWarchdisplay.cgi?19990408034R

Kurtzweil's "out there," I think I might give him a second look, though, if
I can ever get over the very frustrating experience I had with his voice
recognition technology, several years back. He's like the "Count Drugula"
of the A.I. world. Searle destroys him, but Ray's OK.

jody