1961 Computer Projects Explore Machine Intelligence and Authorship
Early computing projects in 1961 attempted to elicit intelligent machine reactions through poetry and the automated authorship of a 511-page technical book.
In 1961, two separate American corporate projects explored the potential for computers to perform complex cognitive tasks. The Librascope division of General Precision, Inc. in Glendale, California, conducted research to stimulate intelligent reactions by teaching computers to write poetry. The project sought more efficient methods to elicit intelligent responses, with reports indicating that these machines could correlate data and compare answers more effectively than humans.
Simultaneously, the Bendix Corporation demonstrated machine authorship through its G-15 computer. Tom Horan announced that the machine produced a 511-page hardcover book titled "Angular Indexing Tables" in 112 hours, utilizing basic information provided by two employees.
While the poetry experiments were largely regarded as a curiosity, both events fueled early predictions and concerns that machines might develop flexible ideas. These developments highlighted a growing belief that computers could eventually surpass human capabilities in thinking and planning.
