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

About this episode

<p>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:<br /> &#8211; <b>Squarespace</b>: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/squarespace">https://lexfridman.com/squarespace</a> and use code LEX to get 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>BiOptimizers</b>: <a href="http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex">http://www.magbreakthrough.com/lex</a> to get 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>Stamps.com</b>: <a href="https://stamps.com">https://stamps.com</a> and use code LEX to get free postage &#38; scale<br /> &#8211; <b>LMNT</b>: <a href="https://drinkLMNT.com/lex">https://drinkLMNT.com/lex</a> to get free sample pack<br /> &#8211; <b>ExpressVPN</b>: <a href="https://expressvpn.com/lexpod">https://expressvpn.com/lexpod</a> and use code LexPod to get 3 months free</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Douglas&#8217;s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/cycorpai">https://twitter.com/cycorpai</a><br /> Cyc&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://cyc.com">https://cyc.com</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (07:39) &#8211; What is Cyc?<br /> (15:45) &#8211; How to form a knowledge base of the universe<br /> (26:11) &#8211; How to train an AI knowledge base<br /> (30:32) &#8211; Global consistency versus local consistency<br /> (54:53) &#8211; Automated reasoning<br /> (1:00:33) &#8211; Direct uses of AI and machine learning<br /> (1:13:11) &#8211; The semantic web<br /> (1:23:44) &#8211; Tools to help Cyc interpret data<br /> (1:32:54) &#8211; The most beautiful idea about Cyc<br /> (1:38:53) &#8211; Love and consciousness in AI<br /> (1:45:52) &#8211; The greatness of Marvin Minsky<br /> (1:50:46) &#8211; Is Cyc just a beautiful dream?<br /> (1:55:31) &#8211; What is OpenCyc and how was it born?<br /> (2:01:21) &#8211; The open source community and OpenCyc<br /> (2:11:48) &#8211; The inference problem<br /> (2:13:31) &#8211; Cyc&#8217;s programming language<br /> (2:21:05) &#8211; Ontological engineering<br /> (2:28:30) &#8211; Do machines think?<br /> (2:37:15) &#8211; Death and consciousness<br /> (2:47:16) &#8211; What would you say to AI?<br /> (2:51:52) &#8211; Advice to young people<br /> (2:53:48) &#8211; Mortality</p>