RXN vs. Simulation

Sure, a computer will one day will be able to to anticipate our needs, and essentially be able to respond to us, just as a human would. I firmly believe this to be true, as we had discussed in class. But I also feel like no matter how advanced our computers become, and amazingly there capabilities serve our needs, they are only as smart as the people implementing the data and creating the software programs, and can be seen as merely a simulation of real life and human interaction. They may be mistaken, at times, for human reactions, but they do not have a mind of their own, and cannot create; they only know and do as they are told. Eliza, the online therapist, although a poor and primitive example, will never be able to organically have a conversation because all of her responses are pre-programmed and there is a limit to what she can say and anticipate. The same goes for our computer giving us ads or recommendations for things we like based on our past history of what we have viewed. It can do a great job of simulating a human because it may guess correctly, but there really is so much it can say, because it doesn't know you or how you think. It only is able to give you back what you give it.