AI is a funny field. As soon as we understand something (read: build something) that we think is AI, it's no longer AI, it's just the result of some computation

AI is a funny field. As soon as we understand something (read: build something) that we think is AI, it's no longer AI, it's just the result of some computation. As humans, and more importantly in this context, things with "real" intelligence, we don't like the thought of explaining away our consciousness and experiences. I'm inclined to think that natural-language SQL for diverse data sources wouldn't just be AI, it would be real intelligence, on the order of what humans have, complete with qualia. See this excellent Radiolab episode[0] where they discuss an experiment about the relationship between thought and language. On a side note, you should check out www.walkscore.com if you haven't already. It's a great website for looking for houses (to buy and rent) that does some of the things you mentioned. [0] http://www.radiolab.org/story/91725-words/ http://www.radiolab.org/story/91725-words/