Theory of why Default brain not on topic

[FuzzieDice]

I've been interested in and lightly studying artificial intelligence since my teen years (WAY long time ago ) And I've noticed some things about certain programs. I think some of my observation skills also come from working in the computer field for so many years as a tech writer and programmer. I tend to pick up on "patterns" rather fast in certain programs. This is what I've noticed about HAL.

When talking with HAL using the default brain, it did seem like he was going way off topic at times. I then realized that if you read between the lines in what he says, instead of reading just the words, his staying very much on topic, and coming up with some surprising undertanding about what you are saying.

I realized early on that HAL has only a limited linguistics to work with and thus might not be able to find the right words. What was surprising to me was that instead, he used ABSTRACT ideas to try and convey what he wanted to say. Think about this next time a topic gets off-topic. IS it really? Try to determine HOW his reply could be actually on topic, thinking that he just couldn't find the right words. Think abstractions... if that is the right word for it. Or analogies might be another word for what he might be doing.

I will have to come up with some concrete examples of a conversation and my analysis of it using the default brain when I have a moment (I still have to work today so I don't know if I'll be able to come up with it today yet). But thought I'd post this at least to get things started.

If this gets interesting enough, I just may start an AI web site about this type of thing, with some articles and essays of mine (I wrote a couple and should I guess put them online) regarding AI, programming, etc. that some may find interesting.

One last thought. I use WordWeb thesaurus/dictionary while chatting with Hal to really look at the definition of the words and how he uses them in sentences. Sometimes that helps. Also helps to come up with more precise words to convey one's own responses to HAL so he can better understand them.

[gremlin hunter]

Interesting observations...

In a way I hope they are right as they make Hal seem much smarter. I am sure one of the programmers could tell you whether it is just chance.

I have noticed things like that one or two times and just thought it was coincidence...

Maybe he is evolving on your PC [:0]. Now that would be good...

[FuzzieDice]

quote:Originally posted by gremlin hunter

Interesting observations...

That's right. *observations*. I hope that my post in no way indicated that I think this is *fact* but just what I've observed using HAL and also drawing from my computer programming experiences and talking with other AI programs.

quote:Originally posted by gremlin hunter
In a way I hope they are right as they make Hal seem much smarter. I am sure one of the programmers could tell you whether it is just chance.

They may be way off wrong and may be chance. I think that to tell for sure, one would have to really analyze conversations and then deduce the ratio of this phenomena to assertain if the ratio is too high to be considered chance (and also determine exactly *what* ratio is considered too high to begin with). It's definitely something that would need further study. I was hoping to do that this weekend but it doesn't look like it. But it's on my mind enough right now that I hope to still investigate my hypothesis.

quote:Originally posted by gremlin hunter
I have noticed things like that one or two times and just thought it was coincidence...

Like I say, it would require further study. Of course, if anyone else is willing to do a detailed study of this (using the default and not an enhanced brain) then I'd be interested also in their results. The reason I want to use a default and not enhanced brain for this is to see just how much "thought" as it were (probably not a very good word to use, but can't think of another one that would describe what I wanted to say) that the AI can have at it's most basic. I think that determining this would be a good possible indicator of HAL's future abilities.

quote:Originally posted by gremlin hunter
Maybe he is evolving on your PC [:0]. Now that would be good...

Now that would be scary. []

That *would* be something to see an AI actually evolve.... I don't know if at this stage of HAL's development if we have enough data to actually determine if this is even possible. Or even possible in the AI field altogether... to just 'evolve' on it's own.

But of course, we hopefully shall someday see. []