Machine Intelligence 4

In reviewing the first three Machine Intelligence volumes, Nature (14 December 1968) wrote: 'The enterprise of Edinburgh University in fostering many of the developments reported has been amply rewarded'. It also noted that several of the contributions were speculative, and seemed'to grope in the darkness for some signs of a breakthrough towards a true Machine Intelligence'. A Vice-Chancellor may be forgiven these days for seizing every chance to stress the obvious. The practice of research is proper and vital to a university. Such pursuits -- speculative or experimental -- often lead, penultimately, to a blind alley; and such negative results are themselves positive contributions to knowledge.