BBC The Next Big Thing - Artificial Intelligence

Leading scientists joined Professor Colin Blakemore for a live and topical debate to discuss The Next Big Thing in science.

The Next Big Thing panel debates A.I. In the second week, the panel looked at the issue of Artificial Intelligence.

In the 21st century, A.I. is gradually moving more and more into people's everyday lives, especially as the interest in computers and computer games grows. New Artificial Intelligence advancements are constantly becoming available - so who knows what the future might bring?

Find out how Artificial Intelligence came to the forefront of scientific debate in story so far.
Understand the science behind the subject in a.i. in depth. Consider the opinions of eminent scientists in hear the arguments.

Read the comments received so far in your view.

If you are intrigued by the subject, why not take your interest further by studying with the Open University?

"The hard task is to know what the skills are that you have to replicate on machines and I think we have a huge way to go"
Prof Aaron Sloman University of Birmingham

"You could model an aspect of intelligence, but we don't have anything that is a whole intelligent system. And my hunch is that it is in principle impossible to go further"
Dr Amanda Sharkey
University of Sheffield

"I think that it's a great pity that the word intelligence was used in Artificial Intelligence. I think it's actually a form of advanced computing"
Prof Igor Aleksander
Imperial College