It has been widely recognized that artificial intelligence computations offer large potential for distributed and parallel processing. Unfortunately, not much is known about designing parallel AI algorithms and efficient, easy-to-use parallel computer architectures for AI applications. The field of parallel computation and computers for AI is in its infancy, but some significant ideas have appeared and initial practical experience has become available. The purpose of this book has been to collect in one volume contributions from several leading researchers and pioneers of AI that represent a sample of these ideas and experiences. This sample does not include all schools of thought nor contributions from all leading researchers, but it covers a relatively wide variety of views and topics and in this sense can be helpful in assessing the state ofthe art. We hope that the book will serve, at least, as a pointer to more specialized literature and that it will stimulate interest in the area of parallel AI processing. It has been a great pleasure and a privilege to cooperate with all contributors to this volume. They have my warmest thanks and gratitude. Mrs. Birgitta Knapp has assisted me in the editorial task and demonstrated a great deal of skill and patience. Janusz S. Kowalik vii INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence (AI) computer programs can be very time-consuming.

Inhalt

I: Parallel Computation.- 1. Parallel Processing in Artificial Intelligence.- 2. Parallel Computing Using Multilisp.- 3. Execution of Common Lisp Programs in a Parallel Environment.- 4. Qlisp.- 5. Restricted AND-Parallel Execution of Logic Programs.- 6. Parlog: Parallel Programming in Logic.- 7. Data-driven Processing of Semantic Nets.- II: Parallel Computers.- 8. Application of the Butterfly Parallel Processor in Artificial Intelligence.- 9. On the Range of Applicability of an Artificial Intelligence Machine.- 10. Low-level Vision on Warp and the Apply Programming Model.- 11. AHR: A Parallel Computer for Pure Lisp.- 12. FAIM-1: An Architecture for Symbolic Multiprocessing.- 13. Overview of AI Application-Oriented Parallel Processing Research in Japan.- A Survey on Special Purpose Computer Architecture for AI Benjamin W. Wah and Guo-Jie Li.