Military leaders succeed in building a computer able to solve any strategic or tactical problem. They are assembled in front of the new machine and instructed to feed a difficult tactical problem into it. They describe a hypothetical situation to the computer and then ask the pivotal question: attack or retreat? The computer hums away for an hour and then comes up with the answer, "Yes." The generals look at each other, somewhat stupefied. Finally one of them submits a second request to the computer, "Yes what?" Instantly the computer responded, "Yes Sir." |