[theatgrex]

But we do have proof that general intelligence exists. So How would it be impossible for artificial general intelligence to exist ? Do you believe in mind body dualism? AGI will be difficult but comparing it to Bigfoot or Leperchauns is rediculous. There is a huge difference between very very very hard and impossible.

[wantrepeneur]

Humans are not a general intelligence.

[PeterisP]

The definition of term "artificial general intelligence" is "intelligence of a machine that could successfully perform any intellectual task that a human being can".

Humans obviously can perform intellectual tasks that a human being can perform, thus humans are machines that implement general intelligence.

[eli_gottlieb]

This is a surprisingly good point. The learning power of human and animal minds is very limited, varies along a normal curve, and doesn't seem to scale with increased computational power (ie: brain size). The decision-making power of human and animal minds is... well, absolute crap, actually, but evolution was working with the constraint that decision-theoretically good decision-making requires lots and lots of compute-power, implying a need for lots and lots of calories, constraining the level of decision-making intelligence that could evolve to consume very limited food supplies.

[001sky]

Gold exists, So How would it be impossible alchemy to exist ?

[RogerL]

Star fusion does it every day.

Evidence that something exists is evidence that it is created.

[001sky]

Alchemy and AI are both a bit more culturally specific. I agree that seeing life on earth would not logically be inconsistent with extr-terrestial life existing. But that is not to say AI=ET.

[weirdcat]

But it does: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_transmutation

[theatgrex]

if by alchemy you mean making gold from another element then it does exist. we just cant do it yet

[TeMPOraL]

We can. It involves particle accelerators and is mindbogglingly expensive.