IBM's AI Machine Makes A Convincing Case That It's Mastering The Human Art Of Persuasion

You are about to hear a speech supporting the idea that Gambling should be banned…" The 332-word speech arguing that gambling should be banned offered three reasons (with evidence) to support its case: "Gambling is addictive," "facilitates criminal activity," and "has ruined many individuals and families." The second speech--arguing that that gambling should not be banned--also provided three reasons. Regular readers of my column know that "the rule of three" is a fundamental component of persuasion. Overloading a listener with too much information at any one time makes it difficult for humans to process the content. Project Debater already knows it. Project Debater marks a major milestone toward understanding language. The AI system can complement human decision-making by bringing in facts and evidence in a persuasive, logical structure. By understanding people's opinions on different topics, politicians, public servants and business leaders can get a better understanding of what people think about a policy or corporate decision--and why they think the way they do.