Table of contents

Where Government Science Policy Matters: Two National Initiatives in Fundamental CS & AI

Overview

Introduction: Two Research Initiatives

Tom Kalil: How to Roll Your Own National Initiative in Science or Technology

Ultrastable Computing Initiative

Problem: Computer Science in Crisis

Long-range Risks to Economic & National Security

21st Century Programming Languages

Self-adaptive software

Semantic Integration of the Code Base

Introspective Software Development

Introspective Development Environment

Introspective Computing

Introspective Computing Architecture

Rationalized Bootstrap Language

Introspective Language Level

Natural Language Understanding Initiative

Problem: NLU in Crisis

Natural Language Research Context

NLU Research Objectives

Impact of Successes in NLU

Substantial Recent Progress in Natural Language Processing

Missing Ingredients: Semantics & Reference

Prospects for Filling Gaps in Semantics & Reference

Machine-Parsable Knowledge Sources

Q & A Based Testing & Evaluation

Performance Metrics

Initial NLU Program Structure

Conclusions

Appendix: How to Shape US Science Policy: Selections from a Talk at MIT AI

Shaping S&T policy

Importance of agenda-setting

Degree of difficulty

How to get things done

Existing mechanisms for input

KalilÕs suggestions for S&T community

Author: