Massively parallel artificial intelligence [Review]

Abstract

collection falters due to its lack of organization. Even though each paper addresses an important point related to efficient portable parallel computing and is worth reading in its own right, the collection remains just an assembly dispersed around a common subject. This is especially true for the last two chapters. In addition, the book fails to address one of the most popular (if not necessarily the best) attempts at providing software support for efficient portable parallel computing-the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) project from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Nor is there any discussion of the current research from the High Performance Fortran (HPF) and MPI projects. Although these projects were not conference subjects , they are consequential and merit discussion. Having said all this, I must emphasize that this text is important; it explores one of the areas that are crucial for the success of parallel computing. When the editors prepared the book no one could foresee that a number of parallel computer vendors would go out of business or that a wave of strong criticism would be raised against the High Performance Computing Research Program. It is clear now that these occurrences grew out the continued lack of development environments for efficient portable programs, which raised doubts about the endeavor's commercial viability. In summary, this book will be of definite interest to anyone who has professional interest in parallel computing: computer scientists as well as engineers. It is a valuable resource that will introduce them to a variety of issues related to achieving efficient portable parallel computing. Each chapter contains an appropriate number of references that should allow further investigation. At the same time, the book certainly does not aspire to provide a complete overview of the field or give definitive answers. Since most of the papers require an overall understanding of parallel computing (some chapters go into considerable detail) the book is not pamcularly suitable as a textbook. However, this collection can function as a source of individual articles for use in the classroom or self-instruction. This collection comprises 12 papers devoted to different aspects of artificial intelligence as perceived , motivated, and applied by recent progress in massively parallel computer technology. The first paper by Kitano sets the stage for the following presentations, as it gives an overview of potential and real applications of massively parallel processing in artificial intelligence. The remaining papers are devoted to the following …