Why can’t a computer program, program itself?
Here's one reason (among many). Human languages are very imprecise. If you tell a computer program what sort of program you want just by speaking to it in your natural language, it could only have a very vague idea of what you want.
The Short Answer
Here's one reason (among many). Human languages are very imprecise. If you tell a computer program what sort of program you want just by speaking to it in your natural language, it could only have a very vague idea of what you want. It's hard enough to tell a human what program you want. You'd need a very advanced AI to do this. It would have to know a lot about the world to be able to "fill in the blanks" and figure out what you really want. Just like a human has to do. There are experimental programs that do this kind of thing, but only in a really basic way. To make a computer program which could make any other computer program based on someone just speaking to it naturally would require an AI approaching the intelligence of a real human. And if you do that, what's to stop it taking over the world and destroying humanity? Ok, that last sentence was a joke. Or was it?
Analysis
Key Concepts: Program, human, want
This explanation focuses on program, human, want and spans 169 words across 12 sentences. At 125% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Here's one reason (among many).” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 12 connected points.
How This Compares in Technology
Ranked #9 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 3%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why a computer program, program itself?
Here's one reason (among many). Human languages are very imprecise. If you tell a computer program what sort of program you want just by speaking to it in your natural language, it could only have a very vague idea of what you want. It's hard enough…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 169 words, ranked #9 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are program, human, want.
What approach does this answer take to explain a computer program, program itself?
The explanation uses root cause analysis and contrasting perspectives across 169 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 2 analytical lenses.