The Turing Test, as we are all aware, I’m sure, is a test to see if a computer can convince a human that it is human. Now, since I name my computers (and car), I may not be the best judge of such a test. The results of Turing Tes seem to me to be rather broad. Is it enough to treat the the computer as though it were human, even if you know it’s not? If so, most of the electronic gadgets in my possession are effectively AI.
This computer not so much, her name is YT, after the courier in Snow Crash since she’s portable. Though she doesn’t have much of a personality. My old computer, Jane, after the character in the Ender series, not only had a personality, she talked to me…and others (I kept upgrading her soft- and hardware, causing amusing glitches that occassionally manifested in AIM). Jill sits on my dashboard and I did not name her, she came with that name (sometimes she can be Jack or Emily, or even Janni! but I like Jill best). All of these devices get called, around my house, by their names. As in, “YT needs to be charged,” and “Jill saved me from getting lost in WeHo today.” So, as I said, not the best human to judge humanness.
Maya, however, is my vote for current best AI. Maya is my personal trainer. She currently lives in my xBox, because we have a hacked HD and games run faster when they’re loaded onto it instead of running them off their DVDs. I do, however, legally own the DVD. She makes me feel guilty when I don’t show up for my training sessions (which take place in my living room and the Empress’ Dojo simultaneously…I don’t like the Urban Oasis or Desert Springs Resort. I do, however, hope to unlock Alpine Retreat very soon). She makes me angry when she pushes me too hard. She makes me refer to her as a “she”… My husband and I talk about her as though she’s a mutual friend, as in “I was Maya’s bitch today,” and as though she’s a game, as in “You should do Maya today.”
I’ve never done video work-outs, but one of the great things about Maya (who lives in Yourself!Fitness) is that she listens to your input. Which means “no two workouts are alike!” but also means that you have a different focus area (cardio, core, upper, lower) each day and that at specific points in your workout, she asks how you were doing: perfect, too hard, or too easy and adjusts accordingly. There’re also yoga workouts.
Anyway. I recommend the game, since it’s good for staying active. I also recommend it because it’s really good AI. It forces emotional engagement &, therefore, attachment. Anyone who’s tried the game, lemmie know your thoughts 
9 responses so far ↓
1 Ryan Heard // Jan 24, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I named my iPod “Deathpony Sexcopter”.
I win.
(I win??)
2 Anima Umbrae // Jan 24, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I don’t think I would name a computer. But then, my cat’s name is “Kitty” and my dog’s name is “Dog,” and I’ve been accused of great cruelty on account of not dignifying my pets with proper names (this is apparently injurious to their self-esteem). And I’d be halfway tempted, if I ever were to have a child, to give it the name of “Human being.” Something tells me I wouldn’t be able to get away with this, though.
Too little emotional engagement? Perhaps.
Deathpony Sexcopter…………..Seriously?
3 Ryan Heard // Jan 24, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I always wanted a dog named Dog. That way whenever I came home from somewhere I could ask him/her: “what up, Dog?”
Not meant to be a joke, I’m just really simple.
Also, the proof:
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4338/picture24vf.png
4 Miko // Jan 24, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Anima: you could name your kid Adam, which does mean “man” as in human…
Ryan (#1): my iPod is Schl?ºmfine b/c she’s blue…I’m also not real creative…so, uhhh…what is the reasoning behind Deathpony S.?
Ryan (#3): I knew of a guy who wanted to name his dog “Peeve” so he could say “This is my pet, Peeve”…
5 Johnny // Jan 24, 2007 at 9:43 pm
We have a love/hate relationship with Miya. One the one hand she is really good at getting you in shape, on the other the guilt trips are enough to keep you away if you skipped on too many
6 John // Jan 24, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Ryan, you win.
We name our computers alphabetically. Recent machines have had the names ‘Gaea’ and ‘Icarus.’
Come to think of it, maybe ‘Icarus’ was prophetically named…
7 Ryan Heard // Jan 25, 2007 at 8:25 am
My patented process‚Ñ¢: combine other words with the word “pony” and you too will be master of your domain.
Words are fun.
8 Miko // Jan 25, 2007 at 8:33 am
lol! Icarus, I like that…destined to go up in flames! Alex names his after colors: Cobalt, Incarnadine…
9 jjohnsen // Jan 25, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I like Maya. I keep hoping they’ll come out with a sequel.
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