Advanced Lessons in Artificial Intelligence: A Technical Novel and a Readable Primer: A Technical Novel and Primer

By Harry Katzan Jr.

There are a lot of people that are worried about artificial intelligence, where artificial intelligence is commonly regarded as the science of making machines do things that would require intelligence if performed by humans. Primarily, they think that the adoption of that technology will cause them to lose their jobs, and they will not have anywhere to go for employment. The computer will be doing everything from scrubbing the floor to running an investment bank, and all that is in between. These are primarily educated people who thought they were okay for their entire life. And, it’s not like the bookkeeping and word processing jobs of years ago. It’s everything. Really everything.

To boot, you hear statements like, “That could be true that you might lose your job, unless you know AI,” where the acronym AI stands for the two terrible words, artificial intelligence. It is something to worry about, even though deep down, you probably realize it isn’t going to be true. Somehow, the government will take of it.

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, as I said, and we will use those two letters throughout this volume. AI books are simply hard to read, and authors like to throw around unfamiliar terms like neuron, cognitive science, and Singularity, and sooner or later, they will end up with some math, and there are many people that don’t like math. They could do math if they need to, but they prefer not to. Moreover, it is hard to remember the subject when it is just thrown at you, like you should love it to death.

This book uses dialog to ease the pain. The first book is an easy-to-read novel with AI thrown in when appropriate, or it is an AI book with the novel thrown in when the AI is getting sketchy. You can share their misgivings.

We have added something more to help you with the subject matter of the first book. We have included a supplemental book.

The second book is a pure and simple AI Primer, and we mean really simple, when you like what you’ve read about AI in the technical/novel first part, and you want to get into it more fully.

There is another option. You could read the Primer first and then read the novel part for enjoyment and to find out how the people in the first book are getting along with AI. You will be surprised.

The volume, that is both books, is a good bargain that you could share with your family or give to a friend. The books contain no violence, no sex, and no bad language, and is suitable to readers of all ages. I hope you enjoy it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9781663261557

Harry Katzan Jr.

Harry Katzan, Jr. is a professor who has written books and papers on computer science and service science, in addition to few novels. He has been an AI consultant and has developed systems in LISP, Prolog, and Mathematica. He and his wife have lived in Switzerland where he was a banking consultant and a visiting professor of artificial intelligence. He holds bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Book preview

Advanced Lessons in

Artificial

Intelligence:

A Technical Novel and a

Readable Primer

A Technical Novel and Primer

Harry Katzan Jr.

Advanced Lessons in Artificial Intelligence: A Technical Novel and a Readable Primer

A Technical Novel and Primer

Copyright © 2024 Harry Katzan Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-6154-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-6153-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-6155-7 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 03/27/2024

For Margaret Now and Forever

With Love and Affection

Contents

Introductioni

Part 1

The New Man on the Team

Chapter 1 The News Announcement

Chapter 2 The First Interview

Chapter 3 Some of Bud’s Activities

Chapter 4 The Secret Meeting

Chapter 5 The New Assignment

Chapter 6 The Promotion

Part 2

The General, Matt and Ashley

Chapter 7 About the General

Chapter 8 Matt, Ashley and the General

Chapter 9 The General Goes to London

Chapter 10 The Queen

Chapter 11 The First Lady

Part 3

The Major Problem

Chapter 12 Getting Started

Chapter 13 The Electric Plane

Chapter 14 The People

Chapter 15 The Luncheon

Chapter 16 Artificial Intelligence Report

Chapter 17 The Organization Plan

Chapter 18 The General’s Home

Part 4

The Hard Work Begins

Chapter 19 The Work Begins

Chapter 20 Matt, Bud and Ashley

Chapter 21 Back at the General’s Home

Chapter 22 The Basic Things

Chapter 23 Thinking

Chapter 24 Learning

Chapter 25 The Advisor Model

Chapter 26 Eliza and Friends

Chapter 27 Looking at the State of Affairs

Chapter 28 A Quick Look at ChatGPT

Part 5

Modern Artificial Intelligence

Chapter 29 Getting Started

Chapter 30 Machine Learning with Types of AI

Chapter 31 Cognitive Computing

Chapter 32 Artificial Intelligence Interim Report

Part 6

The Conclusion

Chapter 33 Collecting the Data

Chapter 34 The Plan

Chapter 35 Wrapping It Up

Chapter 36 The Honors

Chapter 37 One More Thing

Chapter 38 Artificial Intelligence Ethics

Chapter 39 Deep Learning and Other Things

Chapter 40 End of the Trail of Artificial Intelligence

Chapter 41 A Few Words to the Wise

Part 7

Deep Learning and Neural Networks

Chapter 42 Introduction

Chapter 43 Neural Networks - Basic Concepts

Chapter 44 Neural Networks – How They Work

Addendum Final Reports for the Government

Addendum Final Report for the People

Appendix Philosophical Basis of Artificial Intelligence

Appendix Ontological Elements For Information Systems Architecture

Appendix AI Tools and Technologies

About This Technical Novel

About the Author

Introduction

This is a novel about Artificial Intelligence. But a novel about AI? As unusual as it sounds, there is a very good reason for its existence. There are existing books on the subject that are very good but are very difficult to read. It’s that simple. The concepts are complicated and some require complex math. This book is intended to be for enjoyment with some valuable information in-between. No math or previous knowledge is required; just sit back and read. Even AI experts would enjoy a good read. The technical part is for ordinary people. AI experts will know that already and probably more. This is a good read after a healthy meal.

The first two parts of the book are about the characters in the story. They are a small little novel in itself. If you would like to jump right into the artificial intelligence, then you can start with Part 3 without any loss of continuity. This is mentioned again in the postscript to this introduction.

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay this time. It’s a third try to bring the subject to the forefront. It is here for the future, and it is here to stay because the world needs it. We are in the midst of war, preparation for defense, a dismal economic outlook, crime, killing, and so forth. We need it because if we continue the way we are going, we won’t be going anywhere for very long. Practically everything is disarray. Just name them: violence, shady politics, global warming, discrimination, abortion, women’s birth problems, men’s cancer. What is the solution? It is twofold. Equitably use the information we have and permit the human race to communicate and act in a reasonable manner. Through Artificial Intelligence, often referred to as AI, we have the key to managing our lives on a daily basis – worldwide.

Instead of business and government leaders having to tell us what they are going to do, we can and will be addressing that subject through AI.

AI is a systems concept, not a single piece of software you can buy at a local store. Can you imagine a kid telling you they have computers and AI, meaning software apps.

So, here is what we are providing to you with in this book. A straightforward description of the subject of AI embedded in an easy-to-read novel. Even if you don’t like AI, you will love the novel. The major characters are Matt Miller, who has a PhD from a prestigious university, his wife Ashley, also a professor, who is a dramatic woman with an ingenious mind, and General Les Miller, Matt’s grandfather, who is a former a war-hero pilot and the founder of a very profitable business. Matt uses his mathematical thinking to solve complex problem, with the assistance of Ashley, and the leadership of the General. This time, we have a new person on the team. It is a Marine Corp officer who will delight you. His name is William ‘Bud’ Lewis.

The author is a proponent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that is the type of AI superintelligence that can outperform humans that will not harm humanity or unduly concentrate power.

The book is not expensive and something you would enjoy giving to a relative or friend. The book adheres to the author’s principle of no sex, no violence, and no bad language. It is accessible to all readers.

Enjoy it if you will,

The Author

Post script: The book contains two AI reports at the tail end. Now you can actually use the book as a reference. There are also addendums and appendices. There is something for everyone. And of course, read chapter 41 and the last part on deep learning and neural networks. The artificial intelligence material starts in Part 3 of the first book.

PART 1

The New Man on the Team

CHAPTER 1

The News Announcement

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is QRS nation-wide news. My name is Chet Atkins. We have breaking news. Atkins was visually shaken. He was usually as cool as a cucumber.

William ‘Bud’ Lewis has joined the Marine Corp and the business and sports areas are in a state of complete shock. For those of you that are not sports fans, Bud Lewis is the 3-time all-American football player who holds every record that exists for a college football quarterback. His records include touchdown passes, completed passes, total yards, yards for points when quarterback, individual touchdowns, and a record low of interceptions while setting the world’s college record for completions. Atkins started to perspire from the stress.

"And ladies and gentlemen, he was expected to be the number one draft choice in the NFL and was thought to be the number one selection of the Cleveland Browns. His first year’s salary was expected to be $10 million and to grow in succeeding years. The entire business community is also upside down. When he graduates early next month, he will be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and enter pilot training.

Atkins hesitated, There will be more news of Bud Lewis in our scheduled evening news. This is Chet Atkins signing off.

At NFL headquarters, the Director called a meeting of his top staff to postpone the draft of players for two weeks. No one objected. The idea was to give the teams a chance to reset their draft plans. Still, no one said a word.

The New York stock exchange shut down for an hour, having nothing to do with the financial markets. Employees were just standing around talking about the Bud Lewis situation.

CHAPTER 2

The First Interview

Good morning everyone, announced Margaret White, the moderator of the morning TV

show entitled Good Morning America along with Jenney Rogers, her daytime entertainment partner. Both were experienced TV people.

‘We are going to have a surprise guest today, and you, our faithful audience, are the first to hear and see, of course, our guest on live TV. Today we have Kathryn Lewis, wife of Bud Lewis, who appears to be our national hero. So here she is Kathryn Lewis.

Kathryn Lewis walked onto the TV stage with an enormous reaction. She was trim and slightly tall. A beautiful woman, tanned, and confident as she crossed the stage.

Thank you everyone – Margaret and Jenney, our local audience, and people everywhere. I’m here to answer you questions about Bud, my husband, and give an explanation of why I and not he is here today.

Both Margaret and Jenney were totally surprised to have a guest who was right at home on stage.

Thank you Kathryn, said Jenney. We are more than pleased to have you with us. I might as well start out with an unusual question. Why were we unable to schedule Bud while you were so accommodating?"

Once Bud signed with the Marine Corp, he was required to follow the rule that no interviews are permitted without permission of the commanding General., said Kathryn. Bud is the marine’s responsibility, and it protects the personnel as well as the nation. However, I am free to be here and to be interviewed.

How long have you been married, and when were you married? asked Margaret.

It’s an interesting story, said Kathryn. So, I’ll tell you about it. Bud always loved airplanes, and when he was a teenager, he got a part time job with a pilot training school to teach math to the students in the program. In the process, he earned his pilot’s license and instrument rating. When he went to college, he had to join ROTC and chose the Air Force. There were only two options: the army and the air force. Between his third and fourth years, he had to go to boot camp and we were married when he returned. We knew each other for a long time. Then when he received his commission, he chose the Marine Corp. He could have gone to any of the services or the reserves. So we have been married a little less than one year."

Did you know he would choose the military full-time, asked Margaret.

I did not, but both of us agreed to support each other, replied Kathryn..

What about his education and also yours?" asked Jenney.

Bud majored in math, history, and the piano. I majored in English with an emphasis on creative writing, replied Kathryn.

The piano? asked Margaret. What would a football star be doing with the piano?

He just liked it, answered Kathryn. He would go to the music building and practice very early in the morning so as not to disturb the place. He is really good at both classical and popular. I have a story about that. Do we have the time?"

Of course, said Margaret. We have special permission to run as long as we have information and our sponsors were overjoyed.

We liked to entertain and not only on the football field, said Kathryn. He entertained at Sorority and Fraternity parties, free of charge, and once gave a fund-raising concert for the university. The girls loved him, but he had me.

What about you? asked Jenney. He will be away some of the time.

I will go with him if he is stationed in another country, such Germany, answered Kathryn. I have my own work to do. I am an author and have written several books already under a pen name."

Well, what are your plans for the future?" Asked Margaret.

It will be military, answered Kathryn. He wants to be a General more than anything and that is why he choose the Marine Corp over football. He’s not the first person to do that. There is an NFL football player in Arizona who quit football and joined the Army.

And with that, the interview ended with a joyous ‘Thank you’.

CHAPTER 3

Some of Bud’s Activities

Good morning everyone, said Margaret White, moderator of the Good Morning America show. She was sitting on the set with Jenney Rogers, her co-host. "We have a special show today. Our guest is Kathryn Lewis, the wife of now Lt. Colonel ‘Bud’ Lewis in the Marine Corp.

It’s been awhile since we had you on camera; how have you and Bud been Kathryn?

We are quite well, said Kathryn. We’ve lived practically all over the world and have had quite a good record of military achievement and literary acclaim. Bud is now a Lieutenant Colonel and I have become a best-selling New York author. Things have changed dramatically due to ongoing world events. Bud has accomplished a few things that I am now permitted to tell you and all of America.

Do you mean military achievements? asked Margaret.

Exactly, said Kathryn. For example, the case of Larry Flowers being captured by the Russians during an overflight ostensibly taking spy pictures of their country has permitted me to talk about Bud’s over flights since the cat is out of the bag. In the case of Flower’s flights, he for one, did not actually know what he was doing. They just said fly to this point and turn around and come back. It could be he had cameras not known to him or maybe there was no cameras at all. It was the cold war and all kinds of strategies were in place.

Well America, said Margaret. I think we are in for some interesting surprises.

Bud has become an accomplished fighter pilot. To assist the Army, he has been asked, ordered, or volunteered to make over flights to all kinds of places - even combat zones. If the army needed support, Bud was there to provide that support.

Bud is able to fly most fighter jets from the early F-15 to the F-22 Raptor, added Kathryn. He says he might have flown secret missions. Who knows. Just do what you are ordered to do. Here is how it works, but even that might not be true.

They have a pilot totem pole, with the best at the top. When a mission comes up, the pilot on the top is asked if he wants to do it. He may also be ordered to do it. If he declines, then the offer goes to the next person on the totem pole. If you turn down too many, you are out. Again, even that might not be true. If you have accomplished a mission and didn’t like it too much, you could refuse to take it again.

Now he has a good story that was in the news, and that was where I heard of it, continued Kathryn. "Bud never told me if it was him or not. I asked him if it was him, and he said I would never know. It was the bombing of Libya. They modified an F-18 to have a second seat, for a person to drop bombs. The plane took off from someplace far away, in great danger, flew to Libya, and dropped the bomb or even more than one. Two men volunteered and the senior officer got to drop the bombs. The driver was mad because he wanted to drop the bombs but it went to the other guy. The actual pilot, the driver as I called him, never said a word during the whole flight. He was more than angry. They were successful and it became an international incident.

Do you have any more stories? asked Margaret.

I have another that is not the same, replied Kathryn. Do we have the time?

As before, we have time, said Jenney with a big smile. This was good for their ratings. Kathryn was a money maker for the network.

In the Marine Corp, Bud was a hero. Possibly, this together with other missions, military schools, and academic work – he has a masters and doctorate degrees – got him eventually to the rank of full Colonel. Personally, he is only one promotion to become his objective of being a General officer."

That’s quite a story, said Margaret. But what about you Kathryn? I see your name frequently in the New York Times book section.

I’ve been blessed, said Kathryn. My extensive travel, free time, and prior education, have given me the opportunity to become a best-selling author.

What’s next? asked Jenney.

I cannot honestly say, said Kathryn. Most assignments are classified.

Have you been happy with your life, asked Margaret.

‘I am happier than I ever thought I would be, relied Kathryn. We haven’t had any children, but we both have time. Both of us are in good health and are in good physical condition."

Well, thank you Kathryn, and to all of America, have a good day.

CHAPTER 4

The Secret Meeting

It was 3:00 in the morning in the control tower in the airport in Port Royal, Florida. Ben James and Al Rodrigues were totally bored. There was a requirement that the tower be manned 24 hours per day and the men were on third shift. The airport was U.S. qualified as secret that meant that most residents did not even know of the airport’s existence, and the ones that did thought it was another political location developed for some reason by the congress.

A presidential jet C-70 landed in a hurry.

Keep your eyes off the flight, said Ben Jones. And don’t say a word about it to anyone.

That’s a bunch of baloney, replied Rodrigues. No one knows what we are doing.

A Porsche 911 pulled up to the plane and a slender fashionably dressed women got into the passenger seat. There was no hesitation and no luggage.

Look at that, said Rodrigues.

The next morning, James and Rodrigues were reassigned.

Also, the next morning, the headlines of a national newspaper read: Wife of the ex-president appointed Secretary of State. There was no other announcement.

In a quiet mansion in a beachfront location, the ex-president, the former Secretary of State, and a government economist sat together in an ordinary room. The Secret Service guarded the perimeter."

A Porsche 911 pulled up and the woman went inside.

How was your flight from Washington? asked the ex-president.

The flight was fast and the car was faster, said the incoming Secretary of State. I’m glad to be here. I have good news. President Strong accepted our plan to solve our oil and gas problem. He strongly agreed that we need Russia and did not have any qualms about the fact that it might change our relationship with that country. In fact, he said that it might improve it. My plan is satisfactory. We need to get on the right side of the Premier who appears to me to be a reasonable person. His reputation is not good because their government has him tied to the current agenda."

Where did you get this unusual approach, or did you make it up.? asked the outgoing Secretary of State.

I was reading a book about Henry VIII, I don’t remember the title, maybe that is the title, and his choice of Anne Boleyn. He liked some other person, but when he saw her riding a horse and her appearance and ability, he chose her to be his new wife. Now get this, the Russian Premier has a strong interest in horseback riding. So I thought that we could apply that approach.

That’s a crazy idea, said the economic advisor. What should we do? Send the President over to ride horses with the Premier. He is a smart guy. He would see right through it, and that would really kill the idea. And if I remember it, he is fan of Henry VIII.

Give her a chance, said the ex-president. She has already shown that she is a whiz at planning, strategy, and decision making.

So here in my plan, said Hillary Sloan, the new Secretary of State. Get a military man over there to ride horses. The Ambassador can work it out. He’s a whiz also.

Hillary had a smile on her face. She implied to the economist not to tangle with her. She had the brains.

We send military officer over there as a Military Attaché and he can do the job. The Premier also likes military people.

You’ll never get this done, said the outgoing Secretary of State. It’s plain crazy. Now that you are going to be the Secretary, you think you can do everything and anything.

I understand the plan without an explanation, said the ex-president. It will work."

The incoming Secretary of State beamed. She knew her husband would support her and also could read her mind like a book.

Let’s have a coffee and then continue, said ex-president Sloan, Hillary’s husband.

After a cup of Molly the maid’s coffee and a few cookies, the men were cooled down and Hillary could continue.

Here’s what we do, said Hillary. We go to the Marine Commandant and ask him for his best man. We teach him and his wife Russian at one of our super-duper language schools and send them over. Choose an educated and impressive Colonel, so the Premier doesn’t feel we are sending any old inferior military officer. Spread it around what a great guy the American’s have, because we American’s do present a good image, almost as good as the Swiss. The Russian kids will run around saying I’m an American’ in their uniforms. The Premier will invite him to ride and the problem will be solved."

The ex-president could hardly keep from making a comment. Finally, he said, What about that college all-American from our alma mater named Bud Lewis. We all watched football when he was a student. He still gets in the news, but usually through his wife.

The deal was done, and Secretary of State had already received an agreement from the President. The new Secretary had a way of getting things done.

And so, this is how the new Secretary of State Hillary Sloan in her first major accomplishment outlined the procedure:

•Send Kathryn and Bud Lewis to Russian language school in the CIA facility. Both had taken a year of Russian in college when they were students

•Assign Colonel William ‘Bud’ Lewis as the Military Attaché in Moscow, as

•American hero.

•Have Bud Lewis ride with the Premier to break the ice between the two countries.

•Solve the nation’s oil and gas situation with a deal with Russia.

CHAPTER 5

The New Assignment

It was a Tuesday afternoon and Bud Lewis came home early from the base. All he said was, I have a new assignment and I’ll tell you about it at that expensive restaurant near the coast.

Let’s go, I’m ready, said Kathryn, always willing to have an evening out and a fine dinner.

A the restaurant, Bud parked in front in a vacant zone.

You can’t park here, said Kathryn.

I’m not parking, said Bud. If I were parking, I would be in the parking area. We’re not in the parking area, so I’m, not parking.

You’ll get a ticket, Colonel, said Kathryn.

When the policeman comes, I’ll say I am not parking, and he will say what are you doing.

I’ll say I am not parking so it’s up to you to decide what I am doing, replied Bud.

You’ll get a ticket, smarty pants, said Kathryn, who loved to have the last word, especially with her invincible husband.

The restaurant was named the Green Room in New Jersey. Bud asked for a quiet table in the corner, because they had an important matter to discuss. The maître‘d took one look at the handsome couple and saw importance, and gave them the best table in the house.

The couple at the adjoining table always seemed to be there at an opportune time. The woman, quick on observation said, Looks like we have a new class of diners. Her husband looked up and said, The General and his two friends have competition. The man looks like a movie star, or a movie star to be. What I like is that they act normally when talking so you can use your lip reading skills. The others are always turned the other way.

"Both ordered a prime filet. Kathryn had a daiquiri and Bud had an O’Doul’s’.

While they were eating, Bud outlined the upcoming situation. We are ordered to attend Russian language school for four weeks and then I am ordered to be the Military Attaché in Moscow. I will go horseback riding with the Russian Premier to gain his favor for an oil and gas deal for the U.S. and Russia.

I had that in my last book, said Kathryn, I now I know that one person has read that book.

I know, I also read it, said Bud, and probably has that new Secretary of State, where the whole plan has originated.

Have you ever ridden a horse? asked Kathryn. Perhaps, when you were young.

Nope, never been on a horse, even on the merry-go-round in the amusement park.

Then, you have some work to do, replied Kathryn, They say you get a sore butt and it will be harder than flying an F-22 Raptor at Mach 1.5.

Five weeks later, Bud and Kathryn were transported to Moscow in a Presidential jet and given a luxury apartment in a preferred living area. The Ambassador to Russia was pleased to have them there."

CHAPTER 6

The Promotion

The Russians took no time in welcoming Colonel Bud Lewis and his wife Kathryn. They were the Americans they had heard about but never met. Bud was tall and as straight as a night stick, with a good tan – from horseback riding, of course – and a good physical presence. That is important to Russians. Kathryn looked as every Russian, and also every American, woman wished to look. She was medium height, slender, and had a pretty face. She smiled a lot. She did not have long finger nails with a load of polish, and her blond hair was moderate in length and well kept. To the Russians, Kathryn was an American movie star. The Russian men could not take their eyes off of her.

It was dinner after dinner and dance after dance for Bud and Kathryn. Under their cover, they were happy people in contradistinction to the American news media’s dislike of Russia. The government propaganda