Artificial Intelligence -- There has not been a breakthrough yet

The Motto of the present period is Artificial Intelligence ( AI). As with several phrases that extend from specialized academic fields into general circulation, the use of the term is followed by substantial confusion. But this isn't the standard case where the public doesn't understand the scientists -- here the scientists are just as puzzled as to the public. The thought that our age is somehow seeing the rise of a digital intellect that rivals our own entertains us all -- enthusiasm us and scaring us in equal measure. There's a particular story about the present period that one can tell. Consider the following story which involves decisions about people, computers, data, and life-or-death, but where the emphasis is something other than fantasies about intelligence-in-silicon.