The AI known as "Day Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [...] > I never went thru that transition Steven. I never used win 31, > nor win 9x. Everything I wanted to do I could with dr-dos 6 > until the webpages got loaded down with java that Arachne could > no longer handle.
This is a very clever strategy. When the program is cornered, is disavows any knowledge of the subject it was pontificating on earlier. Having followed one of the knowledge base branches to it's terminating node, rather than give up, the program seems to simply back up and 'forget' that path, and immediately start down another closer to the tree. I suppose in this way, it will eventually take every stance that it has record of, but will never be pinned into any of them. It is very human, in that it simply "changes the subject" when cornered. Clever, that. > I didnt all that for drdos, I needed it for Linux/netscape to > solve the surfing problem, and to have some idea what I think > most people will be using after windoz implodes. Again, brilliant coding. It's now jumped completely off of Windows interfaces -- which it was insisting Linux was based on -- and has started trying to distract the interrogator by throwing in tidbits from topics known to be controversial. In this case, I suspect the code has recorded Steven has a preference for Linux, and is in essence attempting to curry favor by taking his side in this controversial area. Very clever. Presumably there are nodes associated with gun control, abortion, social issues, stem cell research, religion, taxes and any number of other controversial "litmus text" subjects. Indeed, the very inclusion of those keywords in this paragraph may trigger some interesting responses. What I admire is that by having the program claim to be from a far-flung corner of Arkansas, ignorant of most things not American, the program manages to just sound ignorant rather than limited. This allows it to work with a smaller knowledgebase than would be required if it were intended to represent somebody with broader experience. > As for DR-DOS7 vs any other, look at it from the standpoint of > anyone who wants to use dos or write code for it. Since it is no > longer under 'development', it is a fixed format that the geek > knows, that if he gets something to work, it always will. And > if the user has a failure, he knows it aint the software. Here things do break down. The program, having successfully navigated itself out of a corner, falls too quickly into advocating DOS. If the program could maintain state for just a minute longer, this paragraph wouldn't be so illogical in light of that which immediately preceeded it. As it is though, to take the stance that DR-DOS7 (not just ANY DOS mind you) should be the next area of focus for developers is just a tad too far fetched to sound human. Again, if the interrogator were still still think he/she were conversing with a human, he/she would surely suspect that human's sanity. > As for Turing, check out the Bagavad Gita. Book XVIII vs 61, > where Arjuna is told the divine force is 'Causing all beings > to move by the power of illusion, as if fixed on a machine. Ah, the old obtuse diversion off the topic. Very nice. Clever that the program does keep the references ALMOST on topic though. I suspect there are a few responses such as this associated with keywords such as "Turing" and "AI". These probably have other branches associated with them that the program can follow if a (human) response latches on to the subject. This explains the occasional references to political learnings, Arkansas and ancient societies. They are topics that are COMPLETELY unrelated to the subject at hand, yet may allow the program to engage the interrogator in a dialog that moves safely away from the limits of the program's knowledgebase. > Arjuna is also told that the Divine has created and animated > forms as a challenge. Whether the Avatar appears to be a fool > or a sage, you cannot teach it anything (it's a cosmic robot); > however, you may learn from it. Notice that the program responds, not by denying being a program, but by making obscure references to irrelevant, but seemingly related topics. They keywords must include "AI", "Turning", "Avatar" and "robot". The programmer must be a sci fi fan! This explains the earlier insistence that works about evolution of biological systems somehow applied to technology. It was a "change the subject" logic at work. I do like the "you cannot teach it anything; you may learn from it." It ALMOST admits to being a program, but does it in a way that seems quite human. To the programmer: I applaud your efforts. You have really created an interesting persona for the program. Except for some of the quirks that we're only now catching on to, it almost seems to be intelligent. Good work! - Bob To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
