To Err Is Human
July 17, 2002 | Source: New York Times
The recent midair collision in Germany raises questions on the reliability of machine vs. human intelligence.
Ordered to climb higher by the electronic voice of the cockpit’s automatic collision detector, the pilot obeyed the befuddled ground controller instead. The airliner dove head-on into a DHL cargo jet — a tragedy that might have been averted if people put more faith in machines.