Bart Kosko (website), a professor at USC and expert in fuzzy logic, was the guest on Monday night. Defining fuzzy logic as a "branch of machine intelligence that tries to get computers to think like people think," Kosko estimated that between 2015-2020 computers' processing power will equal or exceed the human brain's.

Kosko said the 20th Century was about bringing the brain to the computer chip, but that our new century will reverse the process and we will introduce the chip to the brain. This will create possibilities for linking neural networks that could facilitate new types of communication and art forms that we can scarcely imagine now.

In the nearer future Kosko postulated intelligent agents that can advise or console us. These computerized counselors could be uniquely personalized, combining traits from a favored religious figure, pop star and trusted relative. Kosko also warned that technology for "smart weapons" will soon be available off the shelf, and be "within the reach of every dictator's grasp."