On The 21st: We talk to Microsoft director Eric Horvitz about the future of artificial intelligence. Also, we heard from Laurence Msall of the Civic Federations for his inputs on what Illinois can do to solve the budget crisis. Also, the race for governor is shaping up to be the most expensive in history- ProPublica Illinois is helping you keep track of how much each candidate is spending. And, we continue our series of candidate interviews, today with Sen. Daniel Biss. 

Guest: Lee Gutkind.

At least as far back as da Vinci, people have imagined—and feared—the creation of machines that could perform like human beings. That day may be yet to come, but some say that the advances of the past decade have exceeded all expectations. Today on Focus, we'll explore the cutting edge of robotic technology with author Lee Gutkind.

Guest: Douglas Hofstadter.

In the field of cognitive science, our own minds can only take us so far. Today on Focus, we're joined by professor and leading researcher Douglas Hofstadter, who has spent years building computer models of human thinking. Hofstadter believes that thinking is all about taking complex situations and paring them down to an essential core, making it possible for us to leap from one complex idea to another—and form surprising connections between them in the process.

Guest: Anne Foerst.

Robots may seem to be the stuff of Hollywood culture and space technology, but they are quickly becoming more commonplace in our everyday environment. As artificial intelligence gains more significance, it's important to address its theological and social implications. Today on Focus, theologian and computer scientist Anne Foerst joins us to tackle some of the biggest questions at the forefront of her research. What differentiates "human" from "person"? What does it mean to have a soul?

Guest: Jeff Hawkins.

The brain is not a computer, but a memory system, calling upon sequences of past events to make predictions for the future. This is what forms the basis of intelligence—and it is what most computers today lack. Today on Focus, we're joined by computer architect Jeff Hawkins to talk about how studying the human brain will allow us to revolutionize computing technology.