Mal: You tell me right now, little Kaylee, you really think you can do this? Kaylee: Sure. Yeah. I think so. 'Sides, if I mess up, not like you'll be able to yell at me.

'Bushwhacked'


Natter 41: Why Do I Click on ita's Links?!  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Frankenbuddha - Jan 04, 2006 9:11:42 am PST #7281 of 10002
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

It schemes.

And occasionally opens fire (usually on the pets), and, if taught correctly, plays the 1812 Overture.


§ ita § - Jan 04, 2006 9:12:11 am PST #7282 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

The chick in the cube next to me is totally gossiping on the phone in her native language.

Totally not fair.

We're allowed to leave early to catch the start of the Rose Bowl game. How weird.


flea - Jan 04, 2006 9:12:30 am PST #7283 of 10002
information libertarian

All the things that I can think of that are in current use as "AI" are really just massive data collection and analysis - Tivo catching vampire shows, Amazon's recommendations, Walmart's and others' data collection and targeted marketing. On the other hand, isn't a big factor in intelligence data collection and analysis?

I am speaking as a non-AI studier and also as a non-reader of Sci-Fi. But as someone who found Furby creepy. Also Robodogs.


shrift - Jan 04, 2006 9:14:36 am PST #7284 of 10002
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty

Yeah, that's worse. Maybe I'll take a smoke break.

Yep! I'm going to take a smoke break, too, but it's to stave off homicidal impulses in addition to the boredom.


Jessica - Jan 04, 2006 9:15:06 am PST #7285 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

What AI do we have around us anyway? What learns and plans? Apart from the Roomba (or does that not plan?).

Does Tivo count? Store website recommendations?

And occasionally opens fire (usually on the pets), and, if taught correctly, plays the 1812 Overture.

I would so totally name my Roomba 1812 if I had one.

Roomba owners -- how does it do with rugs? I remember reading ages ago that fringe and edges were problematic, but that was at least a few versions ago.


Gudanov - Jan 04, 2006 9:15:42 am PST #7286 of 10002
Coding and Sleeping

There are the self-driving vehicles in that DOD contest, they are much, much improved this year.

There's the XC-45 Unmanned Drone that Beoing is developing. Unlike a Predator drone it is not designed to be remote controlled, just to have a human confirm things like dropping bombs.


Tom Scola - Jan 04, 2006 9:15:42 am PST #7287 of 10002
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.

Weird. I was just reading this on McSweeny's: Scary Moments in Human/Robot Relations in Nonchronological Order.


§ ita § - Jan 04, 2006 9:16:21 am PST #7288 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

On the other hand, isn't a big factor in intelligence data collection and analysis?

True, but it still feels too narrow and number-crunching for me. I think an essential part of AI is that I don't understand how it's done.

Well, I know what I'll be wasting work time on today...


Jessica - Jan 04, 2006 9:16:29 am PST #7289 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

But as someone who found Furby creepy. Also Robodogs.

Furby was creepy. I kind of like the robodogs. (But not as much as the robo-raptors, which I would like to purchase and pit against the Roomba in battle.)


flea - Jan 04, 2006 9:17:42 am PST #7290 of 10002
information libertarian

Tom's link reminded me of the particularly alarming Teddy Ruxpin.