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Related (and since you qualify the answers as "definitely yes" or "definitely no" I don't think it subtracts from what you say, but rather just adds to it:

> When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

(Clarkes first law, copied from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke%27s_three_laws)

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From the wikipedia page you linked:

Isaac Asimov's Corollary to Clarke's First Law: "When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervour and emotion – the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right."

Why would anyone think that general intelligence is impossible when there are 8 billion copies of it running around currently?

Not achievable with current methods != Impossible

> When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

Agreed!

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