Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen
The project is a new research project focusing on common-sense artificial intelligence, trying to bring together the various technical elements used in artificial intelligence. The goal is to create a system with good understanding and judgment.
The institute hopes to establish a database consisting of the basic knowledge that human beings have mastered (ie the 'common sense' that computers lack today).
At present, artificial intelligence systems can scan and 'read' text, and can interpret some pictures, and can also play board games, but they cannot respond to unexpected situations.
The purpose of the 'Alexander project' is to teach artificial intelligence to answer things such as 'What do you usually find in the trash?' or 'If I put socks in a drawer, will they be there tomorrow?'
In some respects, artificial intelligence systems are smarter than average children, for example, it can read and store large amounts of scientific research. But Allen said in a statement that it lacks the knowledge most children have.
He said: 'If we want artificial intelligence to have human capabilities and have the broadest impact on research, medicine, and business, we need to fundamentally improve the common sense ability of artificial intelligence.'