Most Convincing AIs in Literature? - Page 8

anjirlly · 08-26-2011, 06:59 PM

No time either, alas, but perhaps other viewers/participants in the thread will.

miguel1626 · 08-26-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjirlly

Anyone here taking Stanford's free online course on artificial intelligence?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/sc...ford.html?_r=1

I'll be taking it. I can only hope to be able to keep up, though. The course will demand some heavy math, and it assumes a fair amount of CS knowledge.

Already got the textbook on my iPad

miguel1626 · 08-28-2011, 11:17 PM

BTW, anjirlly where exactly lies your interest in AI?

Because this class focuses on narrow AI, i.e. the kind of AI that is not intended to match or exceed human capabilities.

The kind of AI encountered in scifi is an Artificial General Inteligence (AGI). Narrow AI just doesn't present us with a lot of dramatic potential. However, so far no one knows how to build an AGI, so college classes are out of the question.

Nevertheless, this class will be quite interesting, if only for the fact that such two great minds are willing to share their knowledge widely - and for free.

AGI still has no strong formal basis, but we are getting there. See also efforts by the likes of the OpenCog Foundation. Dr. Goertzel's talk on the differences between narrow AI and AGI is quite instructive as well.

I apologize if you already know all this stuff, though

anjirlly · 08-29-2011, 07:25 PM

Thanks, Miguel 1626! My interest in AI is very superficial; I enjoy alien contact science fiction and tend to think of AIs in those terms. I've been following this thread and simply thought others might be interested in the Stanford course, which I encountered via the Chronicle of Higher Education. I didn't realize that the course's focus on narrow AI was not very relevant to this thread's focus on general AI. I appreciate learning the difference and will take a look at the links you provided.

nyrath · 08-30-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Edmond Hamilton's CAPTAIN FUTURE stories featured Ortho, a shape shifting robot.

Well, actually his name was "Otho", and he was a synthetic man, an "android." The other companion was Grag, the metal robot.

nyrath · 08-30-2011, 05:16 PM

Sorry I found this thread about a month late.

One that I find relevant is James P. Hogan's THE TWO FACES OF TOMORROW. It is actually about researchers attempting to create an AI, then running up against the "Frankenstein" problem. Since the author was a computer programmer, it is quite realistic and believable.

http://www.webscription.net/p-439-th...-tomorrow.aspx

miguel1626 · 08-30-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyrath

Since the author was a computer programmer, it is quite realistic and believable.

Thanks for the tip, I'll probably read this one later. Its always good to read authors with a different perspective.

BTW, if you enjoy scfi with a central AI component, do try The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect - its free!

Pinecone · 09-01-2011, 11:25 AM

I forget and don't want to read the entire thread.

But were the Laumer Bolo units ever mentioned? Later models had very good AI.

Nancy Fulda · 09-01-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

I forget and don't want to read the entire thread.

But were the Laumer Bolo units ever mentioned? Later models had very good AI.

Don't think those were mentioned. Just looked 'em up. Very cool.

joenunya · 09-01-2011, 12:50 PM

oops, never mind

DiapDealer · 09-01-2011, 06:20 PM

I just read the Clarkesworld piece, Nancy. Very nicely done.

Congrats!

Nancy Fulda · 09-02-2011, 06:13 AM

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to write.

cHex · 09-05-2011, 12:40 AM

I like Jane from the Enders Game series. She becomes a major player in Xenocide, if I recall correctly, but in looking back was present in Enders Game itself. In First Meetings we get the story of how she came to exist.

Timoleon · 09-05-2011, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miguel1626

Thanks for the tip, I'll probably read this one later. Its always good to read authors with a different perspective.

BTW, if you enjoy scfi with a central AI component, do try The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect - its free!

This is a nasty, tough read!

alansplace · 09-05-2011, 02:23 AM

matilda in robert a. heinlein's time enough for love

09-01-2011, 12:50 PM	#115
joenunya Banned Posts: 120 Karma: 234858 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: kindle4pc	oops, never mind Last edited by joenunya; 09-01-2011 at 12:54 PM.

09-05-2011, 02:23 AM	#120
alansplace Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,897 Karma: 464403178 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: 33.9388° N, 117.2716° W Device: Kindles K-2, K-KB, PW 1 & 2, Voyage, Fire 2, 5 & HD 8, Surface 3, iPad	matilda matilda in robert a. heinlein's time enough for love

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08-26-2011, 06:59 PM	#106
anjirlly Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 58410 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SE Michigan Device: Kindle on Android phone; PB360; Sony 950	No time either, alas, but perhaps other viewers/participants in the thread will.

08-28-2011, 11:17 PM	#108
miguel1626 Great Old One Posts: 189 Karma: 998538 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: L1 Orbit Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro, iPhone 8 Plus	BTW, anjirlly where exactly lies your interest in AI? Because this class focuses on narrow AI, i.e. the kind of AI that is not intended to match or exceed human capabilities. The kind of AI encountered in scifi is an Artificial General Inteligence (AGI). Narrow AI just doesn't present us with a lot of dramatic potential. However, so far no one knows how to build an AGI, so college classes are out of the question. Nevertheless, this class will be quite interesting, if only for the fact that such two great minds are willing to share their knowledge widely - and for free. AGI still has no strong formal basis, but we are getting there. See also efforts by the likes of the OpenCog Foundation. Dr. Goertzel's talk on the differences between narrow AI and AGI is quite instructive as well. I apologize if you already know all this stuff, though

08-29-2011, 07:25 PM	#109
anjirlly Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 58410 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SE Michigan Device: Kindle on Android phone; PB360; Sony 950	Thanks, Miguel 1626! My interest in AI is very superficial; I enjoy alien contact science fiction and tend to think of AIs in those terms. I've been following this thread and simply thought others might be interested in the Stanford course, which I encountered via the Chronicle of Higher Education. I didn't realize that the course's focus on narrow AI was not very relevant to this thread's focus on general AI. I appreciate learning the difference and will take a look at the links you provided.

08-30-2011, 05:16 PM	#111
nyrath Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 52007 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: nook	Sorry I found this thread about a month late. One that I find relevant is James P. Hogan's THE TWO FACES OF TOMORROW. It is actually about researchers attempting to create an AI, then running up against the "Frankenstein" problem. Since the author was a computer programmer, it is quite realistic and believable. http://www.webscription.net/p-439-th...-tomorrow.aspx

09-01-2011, 11:25 AM	#113
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	I forget and don't want to read the entire thread. But were the Laumer Bolo units ever mentioned? Later models had very good AI.

09-01-2011, 06:20 PM	#116
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,891 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I just read the Clarkesworld piece, Nancy. Very nicely done. Congrats!

09-02-2011, 06:13 AM	#117
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	Thank you! It was a lot of fun to write.

09-05-2011, 12:40 AM	#118
cHex Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 2843950 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard (K3)	I like Jane from the Enders Game series. She becomes a major player in Xenocide, if I recall correctly, but in looking back was present in Enders Game itself. In First Meetings we get the story of how she came to exist.

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