Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Informatics (NII) are attempting to create an artificial intelligence (AI) program capable of passing school entrance exams. Its trial will start with the standardized test administered to all secondary school students, and then follow with the more rigorous University of Tokyo (Todai) exam.
"We can compare the current state-of-the-art AI technology with 18-year-old students" by having the program answer real questions from the tests, says NII professor Noriko Arai.
The Todai Robot will use machine-learning and natural-language processing tools currently under development at NII, and it can simulate the scenario presented in a given question to arrive at the correct answer when it is equipped with a set of rules to follow.
NII professor Yusuke Miyao notes that the AI especially excels at answering history questions due to its natural-language processing capabilities. Although Miyao says the program can determine answers by searching a database that includes textbooks and Wikipedia, it still must comprehend semantic language and make the proper inferences.
IBM researcher Jennifer Chu-Carroll says if the NII researchers invent an AI that can apply its natural-language processing skills to both math problems and history questions, they will "advance the state of natural-language understanding."
From IEEE Spectrum
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