Lex Fridman Podcast: #221 – Douglas Lenat: Cyc and the Quest to Solve Common Sense Reasoning in AI

Lex Fridman Lex Fridman 9/15/21 - Episode Page

Douglas Lenat is the founder of Cyc, a 37 year project aiming to solve common-sense knowledge and reasoning in AI. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

– Squarespace: https://lexfridman.com/squarespace and use code LEX to get 10% off

– BiOptimizers: http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex to get 10% off

– Stamps.com: https://stamps.com and use code LEX to get free postage & scale

– LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack

– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:

Douglas’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cycorpai

Cyc’s Website: https://cyc.com

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8

RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/

YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman

YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast

– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman

– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman

– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman

– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:

Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(00:00) – Introduction

(07:39) – What is Cyc?

(15:45) – How to form a knowledge base of the universe

(26:11) – How to train an AI knowledge base

(30:32) – Global consistency versus local consistency

(54:53) – Automated reasoning

(1:00:33) – Direct uses of AI and machine learning

(1:13:11) – The semantic web

(1:23:44) – Tools to help Cyc interpret data

(1:32:54) – The most beautiful idea about Cyc

(1:38:53) – Love and consciousness in AI

(1:45:52) – The greatness of Marvin Minsky

(1:50:46) – Is Cyc just a beautiful dream?

(1:55:31) – What is OpenCyc and how was it born?

(2:01:21) – The open source community and OpenCyc

(2:11:48) – The inference problem

(2:13:31) – Cyc’s programming language

(2:21:05) – Ontological engineering

(2:28:30) – Do machines think?

(2:37:15) – Death and consciousness

(2:47:16) – What would you say to AI?

(2:51:52) – Advice to young people

(2:53:48) – Mortality