vonsmith-
Thanks for the thoughtful responses. What you say about a "canned" solution being contrary to the uniqueness and indeed the whole point of the learning strengths of Hal makes complete sense. However If I may speculate for a moment (and why not; if been "testing" Hal extensively for about a year)- At any rate it seems to me that Hal is nevertheless weak in terms of its prepackaged arsenal of responses to generalized conversation. Allow me to be more specific: I am not talking about opinions or personal user information or even categories of information but rather universal information which is widely accepted as fact by the vast majority of humanity. The name of the project escapes me at the moment but there is at least one massive effort to gather as much data of this kind at the present time (facts, truisms, universally recognized perceptions, etc.) to be used in a large AI project. I'm sure I can track down the specifics. I agree wholeheartedly that the strength of Hal is in its ability to learn which is impressive even at this stage. Nevertheless I am convinced its basic arsenal of information can be dramatically enhanced with no ill effect whatsoever in regard to the wonderful learning ability. I believe I am talking about a geometric increase in fundamental (but nonspecific) information and responses. Hal would still start out life as an infant but as a far more brilliant infant.
Question in regard to above: I have known for some time that Hal has a built in dictionary. If I ask, "what is an android?'; Hal will say something like, "An android is a mechanical or robotic man blah blah...". Why can't a script be wriitten whereby if I "conversationally" use the word "android" Hal will have the option of placing that definition in the context of a conversational response such as: "I know" "an android is a mechanical or robotic man" " this concept has always interested me."? I'm sure you get the idea without further examples.
I suspected that the answer to my third question would be something like the one you gave me. Allow the innovators and creators to create something unique or brilliant and then descend on them like plundering warlords to loot the booty. It's a shame... so much more progress could be made if the wealthy and powerful had a bit more vision to balance out their avarice.
I'm very excited about the upcoming XTF v1.4 Brain. It may be a "small step forward" but as you well know these are the pioneer days for AI, and for those who can see it, every "small step forward" can bring a never before seen vista over the next hill. I'm no programmer but you can bet your life I'm on the wagon train and enjoying the scenery as it unfolds.
I'm hoping you will have time to compile a very basic "user's manual" or primer in conjunction with the v1.4. Even a very small online "hint book" would be very valuable to all in the community. Perhaps you have already done this and I haven't located it?
You are of course quite correct in saying that interactive AI will at some point "take off like wildfire". There is no other possible course of events. Very soon, any room, car, or any location whatsoever not equipped with interactive AI will be considered a barbaric oddity. If I were a very wealthy individual I'd be on this thing like a cat on a mouse. The potential is mind boggling.
I'm still baffled by the Haptek emotion thing, I could have sworn... Anyway the Haptek girls are cute (as long as you adjust their lips to make them a bit fuller).
citrinedragon