BBC Knowledge Asia Edition 3

&

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YOUR QUESTI0NS ANSWERED

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DR

CHRISTIAN

JARRETT

Christian is a

psychology and

neuroscience

writer. His latest

book is Great

Myths Of

The Brain.

DR

ALASTAIR

GUNN

Alastair is an

astronomer

at the Jodrell

Bank Centre for

Astrophysics at

the University of

Manchester.

PROF

ROBERT

MATTHEWS

Robert is a

physicist and

science writer.

He’s visiting

professor in

science at Aston

University.

DR PETER

J BENTLEY

Peter is a

computer

scientist and

author who

is based at

University

College

London. His

latest book is

Digitized.

LUIS

VILLAZON

Luis has

a BSc in

computing

and an MSc in

zoology. He is

author of How

Cows Reach

The Ground.

DR MARK

LORCH

Mark is

a senior

lecturer at

the University

of Hull, where

he teaches

chemistry

and science.

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Yes they can. Creativity involves combining ideas

together in novel ways. In nature, we see amazing

creativity arising from evolution, where genes from

different parents are uniquely blended. So when we use

genetic algorithms, which mimic evolution, computers

‘cross over’ ideas in novel ways to produce highly

creative solutions. Today, computers can compose

music, produce art, and design unconventional and

efficient solutions to problems. PB

Can robots be creative?

Well done, but a robot can’t paint

a Rembrandt – or can it?

PHOTO: GETTY

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