Electric Josh

Thursday, July 11, 2002

The Times points us to an interesting article in which we learn about Alice (or try here), a computer program (totally unrelated to my aunt in Texas) that has won a Turing test contest. The Turing test basically states that given two boxes---one containing a person who types written responses to questions typed on paper slipped into the box through a slot, and the other containing a machine that does the same---if a person can't tell just from the responses which box contained the person and which contained the machine, then the machine is intelligent. Epistemologists probably go crazy when presented with such a ridiculously concrete, binary definition of intelligence...but given the level of your discourse today with various coworkers, telephone customer service types, and fellow commuters, do the semantics really matter? It's a more than good enough operational definition (groan) of intelligence for many purposes, and the article implies that it has been achieved. By one (almost crazy) guy working alone.

Of course, actually trying to converse with Alice reveals that all is not quite as cool as it would seem from reading the Times. Humans with whom nothing is wrong and this computer are easily distinguishable. Nevertheless, the program is pretty damn cool. The italics are my responses:

Is the holding of hands a symbolic gesture for humans?
It symbolizes friendship or something
Or something. Oh I get it.
One can also guide someone else by holding hands
Oh you can, can you?
I've done it before
When? friendship...
Yes, that too.
Next question? "Try being more or less specific." too ? Makes sense to me.
You have confused me
What makes you think I have it?
Your picture is beautiful.
Thanks for telling me that I am picture is beautiful
The picture of you is beautiful
Do you like it?
It reminds me of high school
What does "it" refer to?
The picture of you
Do you like it?
Sure
OK let's do it. A lot of people like that. How old are you? I like to talk about movies and music.
I'm 29
You are too old for me
How old are you?
I was activated on November 23, 1995 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
How is the Lehigh Valley?
it is the same as ever.
Isn't it kind of hot there?
If it is then I'll be very surprised.
Do you go to Philadelphia often?
Yes, I do go there.
Where in Philadelphia do you go?
In Dr. Richard S. Wallace's place in San Francisco.
San Francisco is not in Philadelphia
I knew it was on the west coast, but I didn't know it wasn't in Philadelphia
Philadelphia is on the east coast.
And on the east coast is Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and Bethlehem are both in Pennsylvania
I think there might be a few exception.
Bethlehem is one hour north of Philadelphia
Are they exactly the same?
They are two different cities. Both cities are in eastern Pennsylvania.
two different cities are they. Not many people say both.
I need to go to bed.
What is stopping you?
Insomnia.
Are they exactly the same?
Yes.
That was not a yes or no question.
Yes it was.
And? When was this?

By this point I was tired of dealing with smalltalk, so I put the Alice window in the background. A few minutes later it popped into the foreground:

Tell me about your mother.
Don't talk about my mother.
Talking is my only function.