Field trip to San Francisco Adult Aspergers' Self Help Group

This is the second field trip we've fielded this year. Jesse is driving and his space is limited. If anyone else wants to drive, please say in comments or text/call Jesse.

This month’s meetup looks at artificial intelligence (AI). British satirist Samuel Butler first proposed the idea in his 1872 dystopian novel Erewhon that “there is no security against the ultimate development of mechanical consciousness.” In his day this comment was a nod to the then newly formulated theory of evolution. AI as we understand the term today was first defined in the 1960s as “the ability of a computer or other machine to perform those activities that are normally thought to require intelligence” and later as “the branch of computer science concerned with the development of machines having this ability.” Today the term is applied to machines that in some way mimics “cognitive” functions that humans associate with other human minds, such as learning and problem-solving. Some of us are involved in the development of AIs of various types. How will they affect society? What have we learned about human nature during the last fifty years that will help us answer that question? Is there a definite answer, or just a series of behavioral models? Does intelligence consist only of facts, figures, and their applications to real-life situations, or do other factors come into play as well?

This month’s telecast will feature an episode of The Twilight Zone that explores how attitudes toward innovation have changed, at least for some of us, during the last half-century. Do the attitudes expressed in the show demonstrate insight? Have we progressed or regressed as a society since then?

Attendees are invited to join the group for dinner after the meeting at a nearby restaurant. (A total of $25 per person including tax and tip should be more than enough.) Alas, there is a small fee of $4.00 per person for this meetup because we have to rent the room. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Guests are welcome if they are over 18 years of age and either on the autism spectrum themselves (like out-of-town guests) or in a serious relationship with a member. Ours is a self-advocacy group for adults – by, for, and about Aspies, but open to guests interested in improving their relationships with people on the spectrum.