Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?

[Lynn McGuire]

Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016

First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).

Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.

But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/

So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Lynn

[Mark Jackson]

This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series where
the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.

I remember this as occurring in the second book of the trilogy (/The
Naked Sun/) - but it's been some decades.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Mark Jackson

This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series where
the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.

I remember this as occurring in the second book of the trilogy (/The
Naked Sun/) - but it's been some decades.

That is why I listed it as the series and not a specific book. I just
could not remember which book and if it was just that book.

Lynn

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
   https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future.  The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race.   For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies.  And willing to try new experiences with
humans.  This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
   https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ?  Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?
Lynn

And of course Heinlein visited the subject of AIs becoming aware in
TMIAHM (_The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_) and being moved into android
bodies in _Time Enough For Love_ and _The Cat Who Walks Through Walls_.
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Enough-Love-Robert-Heinlein/dp/0441810764/
and
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Who-Walks-through-Walls/dp/0441094996/

Lynn
Lynn

[Peter Trei]

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Who the hell knows?

There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.

The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

pt

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.

The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

[Peter Trei]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.
The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

The only AI in QC I can think of who's been downright evil, is Corpse
Witch:

https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Corpse_Witch

pt

[Carl Fink]

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.
The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

The only AI in QC I can think of who's been downright evil, is Corpse
https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Corpse_Witch

I realize it was a throwaway character, but I keep hoping Vespabot will return
and we find out its backstory.

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation

on humans ?

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei
Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.
The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

The only AI in QC I can think of who's been downright evil, is Corpse
https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Corpse_Witch

I realize it was a throwaway character, but I keep hoping Vespabot will return
and we find out its backstory.

I don't even remember Vespabot, who must have been a *very*
throwaway character. Remind me, please?

[Jay E. Morris]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation

on humans ?

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei
Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.
The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

The only AI in QC I can think of who's been downright evil, is Corpse
https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Corpse_Witch

I realize it was a throwaway character, but I keep hoping Vespabot will return
and we find out its backstory.

I don't even remember Vespabot, who must have been a *very*
throwaway character. Remind me, please?

Three comics starting way back in 745. A Vespa transformer.

https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=745

[Carl Fink]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Lynn McGuire
Questionable Content: respecting privacy for AIs ?
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4016
First, this subject is NSFW (not safe for work !).
Second, despite the moral and ethical issues of "hooking up" or "one
night stands", here we go into the probable future. The previous
intense look at AIs (artificial intelligences) was not kind to the human
race. For example, the Terminator movies, each one bringing a new
level of death and destruction to the human race as Skynet achieved self
awareness.
But, the QC web comic treats AIs as common, self aware, and self mobile
in their android bodies. And willing to try new experiences with
humans. This reminds me a lot of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series
where the humans living off the Earth (Spacers) fall in love with self
aware robots.
https://www.amazon.com/Caves-Steel-Daneel-Olivaw-Book/dp/0553293400/
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation

on humans ?

Post by Peter Trei

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Peter Trei
Who the hell knows?
There's a self-consistant arguement that once we can create an AI even
slightly more intelligent than ourselves, we've started an avalanche of
improvement which would end in a Technological Singularity, wherein the
most important entities are machines of incomprehensible-to-human intellect,
power, and motivation who may have no interest in serving, or preserving,
humanity.
The AIs in QC don't seem to be smarter than humans, and at least some
start out as owned things, with limited agency, though they can acquire
agency as time goes by.

The most interesting thing about the QC AIs is, generally, how
nice they are. May has a chip (not necessarily silicon) on her
shoulder, but her history explains it, though it doesn't excuse
it. Bubbles has been through worse and come out of it kind,
considerate, and (dare I say it) human.
The one I'd like to see more of is Spookybot, who combines
unimaginable powers with a code of ethics that humans can only
envy.

The only AI in QC I can think of who's been downright evil, is Corpse
https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Corpse_Witch

I realize it was a throwaway character, but I keep hoping Vespabot will return
and we find out its backstory.

I don't even remember Vespabot, who must have been a *very*
throwaway character. Remind me, please?

Remember when Faye and ... wow, my mind has completely blanked out ...
Sven's sister, Marten's ex, fought the Vespa-riding avenger of imaginary
crimes against women, whose scooter turned out to be a combat robot? (How
the heck can I not remember her name? I remember a bunch of her hairstyles,
the name of her business [Coffee of Doom], her parents, her weird forced
cuddling of Faye, but her name refuses to appear.)

Was the character actually called the Vespa Agenger?

I have wondered if her companion was one of Bubbles' comrades, who reacted
even worse than Bubbles to her military experiences, by becoming a weird
vigilante sidekick.

[Joy Beeson]

On Mon, 3 Jun 2019 16:46:50 -0500, Lynn McGuire

Post by Lynn McGuire
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Yes.

They'll be just another variation of humans, doing what humans started
doing long before we started walking on our hind feet.

[Miguel Farah F.]

Post by Lynn McGuire
[...]
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Generally speaking, in the stuff I've read or seen, or have heard about,
AIs tend to become aware and immediately qualify as "adults" and with
either intelligence levels comparable to their creators (humans or
otherwise) or quite above their level. Even the few stories where an AI
starts out as a "child", "grows up" speedily and ends up no different
from the rest of the stuff I mentioned.

But I wonder... what if self-arisen AIs should be, for lack of a
diplomatic term, a bunch of retards? Single-minded child-like beings
with a low "IQ", that also lack the drive of an actual child to learn
and "grow up"?

AIs being software, what if the only way to improve them is through the
creation of forks (clones) where a superior intelligence (be it human or
otherwise) adds what they're lacking? And they can't know how without
picking the AI's brain to understand how it works first?

Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Lynn McGuire
[...]
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Generally speaking, in the stuff I've read or seen, or have heard about,
AIs tend to become aware and immediately qualify as "adults" and with
either intelligence levels comparable to their creators (humans or
otherwise) or quite above their level. Even the few stories where an AI
starts out as a "child", "grows up" speedily and ends up no different
from the rest of the stuff I mentioned.
But I wonder... what if self-arisen AIs should be, for lack of a
diplomatic term, a bunch of retards? Single-minded child-like beings
with a low "IQ", that also lack the drive of an actual child to learn
and "grow up"?

Welllll.... In a sense we have AIs in that state right now. It
has long been pointed out that the computer is the stupidest
domestic animal we have got. And in the online game I play,* we
frequently say of an NPC who does something dumb that "his AI
isn't very I."

Post by Miguel Farah F.
AIs being software, what if the only way to improve them is through the
creation of forks (clones) where a superior intelligence (be it human or
otherwise) adds what they're lacking? And they can't know how without
picking the AI's brain to understand how it works first?
Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

Go for it.

_____
*Not WoW. Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit
software today. Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,
rather than shadowy blobs.

[Jack Bohn]

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict a single leaf?

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict a single leaf?

No, I think that's whatever the antonym is for "collateral
damage." Players have been whingeing for 64-bit on the forum for
several years now, and though I am not a programmer, I'm married
to one, and he says the advantage of 64-bit is that it can
address more memory.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bitÂ
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,Â
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically
depict a single leaf?

No, I think that's whatever the antonym is for "collateral
damage." Players have been whingeing for 64-bit on the forum for
several years now, and though I am not a programmer, I'm married
to one, and he says the advantage of 64-bit is that it can
address more memory.

And 64 bit integers and double precision floating points can be
interchanged easily since they both use 64 bits of memory.

Lynn

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bitÂ
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,Â
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically
depict a single leaf?

No, I think that's whatever the antonym is for "collateral
damage." Players have been whingeing for 64-bit on the forum for
several years now, and though I am not a programmer, I'm married
to one, and he says the advantage of 64-bit is that it can
address more memory.

And 64 bit integers and double precision floating points can be
interchanged easily since they both use 64 bits of memory.

For some value of "easily" that includes a format change.

[Gene Wirchenko]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict a single leaf?

Hey-ho, Tom thinks that is an excellent idea.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
No, I think that's whatever the antonym is for "collateral
damage." Players have been whingeing for 64-bit on the forum for
several years now, and though I am not a programmer, I'm married
to one, and he says the advantage of 64-bit is that it can
address more memory.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict a single leaf?
--
-Jack

A long standing Niggle...

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Jack Bohn

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically

depict a single leaf?

Post by Jack Bohn
--
-Jack

A long standing Niggle...

Ah.

/quiet cheers

[David DeLaney]

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.

Dave, weep for what was lost

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Anyway, to institute a software change that (a) supposedly makes
the game run better and (b) definitely makes it more beautiful,
in my books is worth the effort.

[David DeLaney]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Dave, the state of the Art was not as developed then

ps: "Earendil was a mariner / who tarried in Arvernien..."

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW.  Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit 
software today.  Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows, 
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!
Dave, the state of the Art was not as developed then
ps: "Earendil was a mariner / who tarried in Arvernien..."

In LotRO, in various Arnorian ruins, in various still-populated
Gondorian cities, one sees this in many places, upon pedestals:

https://www.google.com/search?q=LotRO+Belfalas+boat+post&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=iDZm1_rnli-DKM%253A%252CycqN-TSkMP1BaM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kT5OWMAyc8jrvpoCyVV5bMDAsmyJw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjT3d7EtNbiAhWJ4J4KHfOeAVwQ9QEwB3oECAAQCg#imgrc=iDZm1_rnli-DKM:

They *call* it a "Belfalas Boat Post," but you can see what it
is.

[Dimensional Traveler]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW. Â Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bitÂ
software today. Â Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,Â
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!
Dave, the state of the Art was not as developed then
ps: "Earendil was a mariner / who tarried in Arvernien..."

In LotRO, in various Arnorian ruins, in various still-populated
They *call* it a "Belfalas Boat Post," but you can see what it
is.

A boat on a post?

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Jack Bohn

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

*Not WoW. Â Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bitÂ
software today. Â Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,Â
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To

realistically depict

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!
Dave, the state of the Art was not as developed then
ps: "Earendil was a mariner / who tarried in Arvernien..."

In LotRO, in various Arnorian ruins, in various still-populated
They *call* it a "Belfalas Boat Post," but you can see what it
is.

A boat on a post?

It's a representation of Earendil's ship Vingilot
("Foam-flower"), with the Silmaril atop its mast.

[Dimensional Traveler]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Jack Bohn

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
*Not WoW. Lord of the Rings Online, which just went to 64-bit
software today. Now the trees cast detailed leafy shadows,
rather than shadowy blobs.

Is that what has been driving its software advance? To realistically depict
a single leaf?

And of course a single flower, and a single fruit.
Dave, weep for what was lost

But ... we see them daily and nightly in the sky.

Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Isn't that why we are aiming for google-bit processing? (The number,
not the search engine. Although, maybe if we cross-connect them....)

[David DeLaney]

Post by Dimensional Traveler

Post by David DeLaney
Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Isn't that why we are aiming for google-bit processing? (The number,
not the search engine. Although, maybe if we cross-connect them....)

The number's a googol.

Dave, eleventeen vigintillion and six

[Dimensional Traveler]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dimensional Traveler

Post by David DeLaney
Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Isn't that why we are aiming for google-bit processing? (The number,
not the search engine. Although, maybe if we cross-connect them....)

The number's a googol.
Dave, eleventeen vigintillion and six

Ah, thank you.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Dimensional Traveler

Post by David DeLaney
Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Isn't that why we are aiming for google-bit processing? (The number,
not the search engine. Although, maybe if we cross-connect them....)

The number's a googol.
Dave, eleventeen vigintillion and six

I was just working with an incredibly small number, 9.881312916824931e-323.

Yes, it was a software bug and an infinite loop.

Lynn

[Titus G]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by David DeLaney

Post by David DeLaney
Yes, but the resolution on them is _crap_. They're a single huge blurry pixel
each!

Isn't that why we are aiming for google-bit processing?  (The number,
not the search engine.  Although, maybe if we cross-connect them....)

The number's a googol.
Dave, eleventeen vigintillion and six

I was just working with an incredibly small number, 9.881312916824931e-323.

IQ test?

[Miguel Farah F.]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.

[...]

Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

Go for it.

So I start thinking about how AIs can be retards and how to deal with it
and two days later, I am researching if clostridium bacteria could thrive
in an atmosphere that has been replaced by noble gasses, forcing the
people tasked with recovering the bodies of the dead to wear environment
suits (even though it's their own planet) to avoid a botulism outbreak;
war is, indeed, nasty.

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.

[...]

Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

Go for it.

So I start thinking about how AIs can be retards and how to deal with it
and two days later, I am researching if clostridium bacteria could thrive
in an atmosphere that has been replaced by noble gasses, forcing the
people tasked with recovering the bodies of the dead to wear environment
suits (even though it's their own planet) to avoid a botulism outbreak;
war is, indeed, nasty.

Well ... try it on for size, remembering however that biowarfare
has the same drawback as poison gas: it may turn around on you.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.

[...]

Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

Go for it.

So I start thinking about how AIs can be retards and how to deal with it
and two days later, I am researching if clostridium bacteria could thrive
in an atmosphere that has been replaced by noble gasses, forcing the
people tasked with recovering the bodies of the dead to wear environment
suits (even though it's their own planet) to avoid a botulism outbreak;
war is, indeed, nasty.

Well ... try it on for size, remembering however that biowarfare
has the same drawback as poison gas: it may turn around on you.

I watched the Einstein series on National Geographic channel a couple of
years ago. Highly recommended. One of Einstein's friends invented the
Mustard Gas process and used it in the trenches in WWI. The first time
they used it, the wind changed and some of the mustard gas came back
their way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius_(American_TV_series)

Lynn

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Lynn McGuire
[...]
So what is it going to be if AIs become self aware ? Are they going to
come after us or are they going to become just another variation on humans ?

Generally speaking, in the stuff I've read or seen, or have heard about,
AIs tend to become aware and immediately qualify as "adults" and with
either intelligence levels comparable to their creators (humans or
otherwise) or quite above their level. Even the few stories where an AI
starts out as a "child", "grows up" speedily and ends up no different
from the rest of the stuff I mentioned.
But I wonder... what if self-arisen AIs should be, for lack of a
diplomatic term, a bunch of retards? Single-minded child-like beings
with a low "IQ", that also lack the drive of an actual child to learn
and "grow up"?
AIs being software, what if the only way to improve them is through the
creation of forks (clones) where a superior intelligence (be it human or
otherwise) adds what they're lacking? And they can't know how without
picking the AI's brain to understand how it works first?
Software spelunking has just gotten way nastier. Excuse me while I go
write some kind of outline...

Jerry Pournelle used to say that he realized how smart the low IQ people
were when his Boeing team was programming their spacesuit testing lab in
the 1970s/1980s.

Lynn

[Mark Jackson]

But I wonder... what if self-arisen AIs should be. . . .
[s]ingle-minded child-like beings with a low "IQ", that also lack
the drive of an actual child to learn and "grow up"?
AIs being software, what if the only way to improve them is through
the creation of forks (clones) where a superior intelligence (be it
human or otherwise) adds what they're lacking? And they can't know
how without picking the AI's brain to understand how it works first?

An alternative path to creating a human-level artificial intelligence:

https://www.gocomics.com/saturday-morning-breakfast-cereal/2019/06/05

[Miguel Farah F.]

Post by Mark Jackson

But I wonder... what if self-arisen AIs should be. . . .
[s]ingle-minded child-like beings with a low "IQ", that also lack
the drive of an actual child to learn and "grow up"?
AIs being software, what if the only way to improve them is through
the creation of forks (clones) where a superior intelligence (be it
human or otherwise) adds what they're lacking? And they can't know
how without picking the AI's brain to understand how it works first?

https://www.gocomics.com/saturday-morning-breakfast-cereal/2019/06/05

Sometimes I DON'T want to punch Zach Weiner in the face. Not that I'm
going to stop reading his comic daily in the foreseeable future. :-D

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate cake
without ketchup or mustard."
- John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes", which I will read off to Hal as soon as he get back
from the tire place (where it will be determined whether my
son-in-law's Suburban *does* or *does not* have a nail in one of
its tires).

Postscriptum: he's back, and it *does not.* One less thing wrong
with that car. (Still has a cracked windshield and the AC
doesn't work, but at least it runs now.)

[Mark Jackson]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate
cake without ketchup or mustard." - John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes"

My first programming language was Fortran, and I later worked with
Ratfor and its more efficient implementation M4; it had its uses but
since I'm long out of that environment I don't miss it. This is from

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Python - why settle for snake oil when you can have the *whole* snake?

Signature from February 1993.

[Miguel Farah F.]

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate
cake without ketchup or mustard." - John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes"

My first programming language was Fortran, and I later worked with
Ratfor and its more efficient implementation M4; it had its uses but
since I'm long out of that environment I don't miss it. This is from

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Python - why settle for snake oil when you can have the *whole* snake?

Signature from February 1993.

How on this Earth did I manage to live for 20+ years without reading this
phrase? Mark, you have been added to my .Sigs directory.

[Mark Jackson]

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Python - why settle for snake oil when you can have the *whole* snake?

How on this Earth did I manage to live for 20+ years without reading
this phrase?

Dunno - it appeared on the "What is Python?" page of python.org for a
number of years. See, e.g.,

https://web.archive.org/web/19990128161904/http://www.python.org/doc/Summary.html

Post by Miguel Farah F.
Mark, you have been added to my .Sigs directory.

Thanks (I think :-). I change my signature monthly; see

http://www.mark-jackson.online/oldsignatures.html

[Miguel Farah F.]

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by Miguel Farah F.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Python - why settle for snake oil when you can have the *whole* snake?

How on this Earth did I manage to live for 20+ years without reading
this phrase?

Dunno - it appeared on the "What is Python?" page of python.org for a
number of years. See, e.g.,
https://web.archive.org/web/19990128161904/http://www.python.org/doc/Summary.html

Post by Miguel Farah F.
Mark, you have been added to my .Sigs directory.

Thanks (I think :-). I change my signature monthly; see
http://www.mark-jackson.online/oldsignatures.html

I started using variable sigquotes as soon as tin started supporting
them (back in 1993) and have been collecting worthy quotes in the ~/.Sigs
directory since then. Only a couple of the oldest quotes make me cringe
somewhat now (and no, I ain't takin' 'em down).

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Miguel Farah F.
I started using variable sigquotes as soon as tin started supporting
them (back in 1993) and have been collecting worthy quotes in the ~/.Sigs
directory since then. Only a couple of the oldest quotes make me cringe
somewhat now (and no, I ain't takin' 'em down).

Hal has a little 3.5-inch video screen connected to a Raspberry
Pi that fits into his shirt pocket, that cycles at five?-second
intervals through a large number of snarky comments, many of
which came off refrigerator magnets. His latest addition, if I'm
current on it, is "AOC 2028," although he's toyed with the idea
of changing it to "AOC 2024" because, although Rep. Ocasio-Cortez
would not be 35 yet during the 2024 campaign, she would be by the
time of inauguration in 2025.

Right now, I'd settle for the other one he has: "WARREN HARRIS
DUCKWORTH: PICK ANY TWO."

[Kevrob]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
I started using variable sigquotes as soon as tin started supporting
them (back in 1993) and have been collecting worthy quotes in the ~/.Sigs
directory since then. Only a couple of the oldest quotes make me cringe
somewhat now (and no, I ain't takin' 'em down).

Hal has a little 3.5-inch video screen connected to a Raspberry
Pi that fits into his shirt pocket, that cycles at five?-second
intervals through a large number of snarky comments, many of
which came off refrigerator magnets. His latest addition, if I'm
current on it, is "AOC 2028," although he's toyed with the idea
of changing it to "AOC 2024"....

I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
because, although Rep. Ocasio-Cortez
would not be 35 yet during the 2024 campaign, she would be by the
time of inauguration in 2025.

Old joke:

Q.) Why will an woman never be President?

A.) She's have to admit to being 35 years old.

Obviously, from an age of sexist badthink. :)

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Right now, I'd settle for the other one he has: "WARREN
HARRIS DUCKWORTH: PICK ANY TWO."

"Warren Harris Duckworth" sounds like some of the Old
Money WASPs up our way.

Kevin R

[Kevrob]

Post by Kevrob
I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Correction: "AOC 1781."

Kevin R

[David DeLaney]

Post by Kevrob

Post by Kevrob
I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Correction: "AOC 1781."

... well, THAT would certainly mutate the Hamilton musical.

Dave, 16th notes diverging through the years

[Kevrob]

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Kevrob

Post by Kevrob
I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Correction: "AOC 1781."

... well, THAT would certainly mutate the Hamilton musical.

This is the AOC I was referencing:

uggcf://ninyba.ynj.lnyr.rqh/18gu_praghel/negpbas.nfc

Kevin R

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Kevrob

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Kevrob

Post by Kevrob
I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Correction: "AOC 1781."

... well, THAT would certainly mutate the Hamilton musical.

uggcf://ninyba.ynj.lnyr.rqh/18gu_praghel/negpbas.nfc

For Cat's sake, Kev, if you're going rot-13 a URL, give us some
kind of hint. I got the weirdest error messages.....

That said, bookmarked. I have a pocket Constitution in my
bookcase, but it doesn't include that flavor of AOC.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Kevrob

Post by David DeLaney

Post by Kevrob

Post by Kevrob
I prefer "AIOC 1781." :)

Correction: "AOC 1781."

... well, THAT would certainly mutate the Hamilton musical.

uggcf://ninyba.ynj.lnyr.rqh/18gu_praghel/negpbas.nfc

For Cat's sake, Kev, if you're going rot-13 a URL, give us some
kind of hint. I got the weirdest error messages.....
That said, bookmarked. I have a pocket Constitution in my
bookcase, but it doesn't include that flavor of AOC.

Yes, for cat's sake !

Lynn

[Kevrob]

Post by Lynn McGuire

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
That said, bookmarked. I have a pocket Constitution in my
bookcase, but it doesn't include that flavor of AOC.

Yes, for cat's sake !

{woof!}

Kevin R

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate
cake without ketchup or mustard." - John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes"

My first programming language was Fortran, and I later worked with
Ratfor and its more efficient implementation M4; it had its uses but
since I'm long out of that environment I don't miss it. This is from

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
Python - why settle for snake oil when you can have the *whole* snake?

I read that off to Hal and he said, "Heh. That's why the
Raspberry Pi is called 'Pi'; they were thinking of making it a
Python machine." I said, "Thank goodness they changed their
mind."

When we were first dating, he decided he'd teach me FORTRAN. I
patiently explained to him that FORTRAN didn't do anything I
wanted to do. (Numbers have never been my thing, and since the
CFS set in and hosed my short-term memory, I can't remember a
seven-digit telephone number long enough to dial it. I had
scratch paper always at my left hand.) I got into computers
when I discovered UNIX and its text-processing software.

[Robert Carnegie]

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate cake
without ketchup or mustard."
- John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes", which I will read off to Hal as soon as he get back
from the tire place (where it will be determined whether my
son-in-law's Suburban *does* or *does not* have a nail in one of
its tires).

A tricky paragraph - but I'm to blame for confusing myself
into thinking that Hal seems to make a slow trip to the
fire place and back. And these should be good glasses.

[Dorothy J Heydt]

Post by Robert Carnegie

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by Miguel Farah F.
"A computer without COBOL and FORTRAN is like a piece of chocolate cake
without ketchup or mustard."
- John Krueger

Oh, splendid. Saved to disk (a very long file by now, entitlted
"quotes", which I will read off to Hal as soon as he get back
from the tire place (where it will be determined whether my
son-in-law's Suburban *does* or *does not* have a nail in one of
its tires).

A tricky paragraph - but I'm to blame for confusing myself
into thinking that Hal seems to make a slow trip to the
fire place and back. And these should be good glasses.

*Tire* place, and I don't think it's very far away, but he had to
wait for somebody to be free to inspect the thing and determine
that it hadn't lost any pressure since it was in yesterday.