Smart Machines and Why We Fear Them

The cultural definition of artificial intelligence -- or A.I., as it is known -- goes something like this: "A.I. is the science of how to get machines to do the things they do in the movies." No wonder the subject makes some people nervous. The popular media portray artificial intelligence as one of the heights of human accomplishment, but also as an inevitable catalyst for the downfall of our species. From Frankenstein through HAL to "The Terminator," our culture enjoys wallowing in the fear of our creations.