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EPISODE · May 3, 2026 · 29 MIN

Beer Cans & Meat Machines

from The Reith Lectures · host BBC Radio 4

In the second Reith Lecture of his series 'Minds, Brains and Science', John Searle, Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, considers artificial intelligence. He debates whether scientists could create a digital computer which has its own thoughts.In this lecture entitled 'Beer Cans and Meat Machines', Professor Searle compares the relationship of the mind and the brain to that of computer programme software to computer hardware. But can a man-made machine ever think like a human?

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 3, 2026

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Beer Cans & Meat Machines

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