Comments on: Short interview with creators of Cleverbot avatar video http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: michael henning http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1205641 michael henning Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1205641 Cleverbot2 sounds like Guildenstern in that 'not everything could still be something' bit. Cleverbot2 sounds like Guildenstern in that ‘not everything could still be something’ bit.

]]> By: Paul Laroquod http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1205222 Paul Laroquod Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1205222 I was not trying to be polite toward the researchers here; it's not my goal to spare their feelings; I was just attempting to be accurate about what constitutes scientific evidence and why that matters. I do see what you're getting at, Michael, with the example of gravity. However, gravity has already been scientifically tested, whereas 'common sense' views of what happens when you feed an application's output back into it as input, probably haven't (until now) been tested — and it's a good thing that they have been tested, before being used as a basis for any other science. In a sense, you have proved my point, because if you are going to do any science that rests upon the assumption that feeding Eliza's output back into itself results in infinite repetition, then you should definitely test that assumption first, the way they did with gravity: not just assume you know precisely how it will turn out in an unempirical way simply because it seems like the most reasonable assumption to you. That may well be: it may be perfectly obvious. But if that is so then you can be assured that your test will come out exactly the way that you predict. Obviousness is no excuse, however, for skipping the scientific verification altogether -- that's just a recipe for sloppy science. I was not trying to be polite toward the researchers here; it’s not my goal to spare their feelings; I was just attempting to be accurate about what constitutes scientific evidence and why that matters. I do see what you’re getting at, Michael, with the example of gravity. However, gravity has already been scientifically tested, whereas ‘common sense’ views of what happens when you feed an application’s output back into it as input, probably haven’t (until now) been tested — and it’s a good thing that they have been tested, before being used as a basis for any other science. In a sense, you have proved my point, because if you are going to do any science that rests upon the assumption that feeding Eliza’s output back into itself results in infinite repetition, then you should definitely test that assumption first, the way they did with gravity: not just assume you know precisely how it will turn out in an unempirical way simply because it seems like the most reasonable assumption to you. That may well be: it may be perfectly obvious. But if that is so then you can be assured that your test will come out exactly the way that you predict. Obviousness is no excuse, however, for skipping the scientific verification altogether — that’s just a recipe for sloppy science.

]]> By: Michael Curran http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1205197 Michael Curran Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1205197 That's a polite way to phrase it, would you say the same if a physicist double-checked that gravity still existed before performing an experiment? That’s a polite way to phrase it, would you say the same if a physicist double-checked that gravity still existed before performing an experiment?

]]> By: gratefulvideo http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203916 gratefulvideo Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203916 I started a cleverbot convo with "Do you read Boing Boing?"  and it went really well.  They talked about food they like then asked which was the others favorite Glee character and he (bot1) said Naruto.  Below is how it ended.  Bot1: Do think you are smart?Bot2: YesBot1: Why?Bot2: Not your business.Bot1: Ok then just being polite.Bot2: That's what I love about you.Bot1: And I enjoyed talking with a clever AI like you are after all.Bot2: I'd love it if you could do that.Bot1: I do love now please forgive me from leaving you.Bot2: Ok. I started a cleverbot convo with “Do you read Boing Boing?”  and it went really well.  They talked about food they like then asked which was the others favorite Glee character and he (bot1) said Naruto.  Below is how it ended.  Bot1: Do think you are smart?Bot2: YesBot1: Why?Bot2: Not your business.Bot1: Ok then just being polite.Bot2: That’s what I love about you.Bot1: And I enjoyed talking with a clever AI like you are after all.Bot2: I’d love it if you could do that.Bot1: I do love now please forgive me from leaving you.Bot2: Ok.

]]> By: Paul Laroquod http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203896 Paul Laroquod Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203896 That they decided to test it with Eliza instead of assuming the obvious conclusion is just a sign that they are empiricists rather than rationalists — a positive trait for a scientist. That they decided to test it with Eliza instead of assuming the obvious conclusion is just a sign that they are empiricists rather than rationalists — a positive trait for a scientist.

]]> By: hungryjoe http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203870 hungryjoe Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203870 The scenario you described would still be amazing.  Just for different reasons. The scenario you described would still be amazing.  Just for different reasons.

]]> By: SkylerNelson http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203701 SkylerNelson Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203701 I'm just going to quote the comment I made on the last one: "So, a prominent theory about Cleverbot is that it's mostly fake, and is actually just connecting people to each other and randomly switching who is connected to who at certain intervals.  This is why a typical Cleverbot conversation seems perfectly human in short bursts, and then every once in a while you'll get a nonsequitor and the conversation won't make sense for a moment.Of course, you could get the same effect by doing what it claims to be doing, and having some very smart algorithm that combs through conversations and tries to make sense of context enough to reply.  But that would take a lot more work, and if you'd done that work, it'd be something to be proud of and maybe you'd be keen on providing things like source code or implementation details...If I'm correct, that makes this video a lot more ironic and postmodern." To clarify that last point, if I'm right, it means we're humans using our computers to watch a video of two computers displaying computer simulated humans who are acting out a conversation between humans who are accusing each other of being computers, and we think it's amazing because we think they're computers pretending to be human. I’m just going to quote the comment I made on the last one:

“So, a prominent theory about Cleverbot is that it’s mostly fake, and is actually just connecting people to each other and randomly switching who is connected to who at certain intervals.  This is why a typical Cleverbot conversation seems perfectly human in short bursts, and then every once in a while you’ll get a nonsequitor and the conversation won’t make sense for a moment.Of course, you could get the same effect by doing what it claims to be doing, and having some very smart algorithm that combs through conversations and tries to make sense of context enough to reply.  But that would take a lot more work, and if you’d done that work, it’d be something to be proud of and maybe you’d be keen on providing things like source code or implementation details…If I’m correct, that makes this video a lot more ironic and postmodern.”

To clarify that last point, if I’m right, it means we’re humans using our computers to watch a video of two computers displaying computer simulated humans who are acting out a conversation between humans who are accusing each other of being computers, and we think it’s amazing because we think they’re computers pretending to be human.

]]> By: Narfig_Agar http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203629 Narfig_Agar Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203629 Of course it's staged!  Two cleverbot's running into each other in a bar and having this conversation while I filmed it on my phone would be awesome, but a little outside of our current  technology. Of course it’s staged!  Two cleverbot’s running into each other in a bar and having this conversation while I filmed it on my phone would be awesome, but a little outside of our current  technology.

]]> By: Felix Binder http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203565 Felix Binder Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203565 Where does one get these Avatars? Where does one get these Avatars?

]]> By: stuck411 http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203249 stuck411 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203249 I saw this some days ago and at the time wished the two AI had arms & hands to slap each other. At least have given the AIs the ability to move their animated arms and for us to hear a simulated slap. At the end of the day, yes, they were just programs responding with responses they've gotten over the years. But it was kind of cool to see the philosophical questions kinda get proposed. It was like watching two grad students getting drunk and getting all 'deep'. I saw this some days ago and at the time wished the two AI had arms & hands to slap each other. At least have given the AIs the ability to move their animated arms and for us to hear a simulated slap.

At the end of the day, yes, they were just programs responding with responses they’ve gotten over the years. But it was kind of cool to see the philosophical questions kinda get proposed. It was like watching two grad students getting drunk and getting all ‘deep’.

]]> By: Michael Curran http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203244 Michael Curran Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203244 That depends, I had Cleverbot chatting with itself for a bit and it started by producing what seemed to be some kind of Lesyay fanfic as written by a shy 12-year old girl, and then it produced this gem: Cleverbot 1: *dances for you*. Cleverbot 2: *stares*. Cleverbot 1: *dances while you stare*. Cleverbot 2: *Dances with you too*. Cleverbot 1: You left yourself open! *palm strike!*. Cleverbot 2: What? That depends, I had Cleverbot chatting with itself for a bit and it started by producing what seemed to be some kind of Lesyay fanfic as written by a shy 12-year old girl, and then it produced this gem:

Cleverbot 1: *dances for you*.

Cleverbot 2: *stares*.

Cleverbot 1: *dances while you stare*.

Cleverbot 2: *Dances with you too*.

Cleverbot 1: You left yourself open! *palm strike!*.

Cleverbot 2: What?

]]> By: my name is aesthette http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203184 my name is aesthette Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203184 Does anybody else think that this is how David Lynch writes dialogue? Does anybody else think that this is how David Lynch writes dialogue?

]]> By: snah http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203181 snah Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203181 Anyone recall Racter? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racter I wonder what a conversation between two Racter instances would generate?  That was one crazy AI app. Always wanted to hook up Racter with a voice module, have it answer the phone, and record the conversations. Anyone recall Racter? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racter

I wonder what a conversation between two Racter instances would generate?  That was one crazy AI app.

Always wanted to hook up Racter with a voice module, have it answer the phone, and record the conversations.

]]> By: Charles Milner http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203166 Charles Milner Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203166 So, as far as I can tell, the video was completely staged.  They simply had 2 cleverbot programs exchanging text with each other.  Then they ran the text of the conversation through a text-to-speech program and produced some matching animation. So, as far as I can tell, the video was completely staged.  They simply had 2 cleverbot programs exchanging text with each other.  Then they ran the text of the conversation through a text-to-speech program and produced some matching animation.

]]> By: MisterM http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203152 MisterM Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203152 Sign them up for Fox News anchor positions. Sign them up for Fox News anchor positions.

]]> By: kartwaffles http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203145 kartwaffles Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203145 I just opened 2 browser tabs with Cleverbot in each of them, and through the magic of copy and paste they had a conversation with themselves. I started with "Haha, you say it O.T.", since that phrase is just so wacky: Bot 1: Haha, you say it O.T. Bot 2: You are much older than me. Bot 1: No I am not. Bot 2: Oh, you are right. Sorry about the confusion. Bot 1: That's OK. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Bot 2: I have three brothers. Bot 1: What are your brothers called? Bot 2: My brothers are called Kaj, Asger and Peter. Bot 1: Who of your brothers do you like the most? Bot 2: The most beautiful elf in Middle-Earth! Bot 1: Alex? Bot 2: Alx who? Bot 1: Alex K. I just opened 2 browser tabs with Cleverbot in each of them, and through the magic of copy and paste they had a conversation with themselves. I started with “Haha, you say it O.T.”, since that phrase is just so wacky:

Bot 1: Haha, you say it O.T.
Bot 2: You are much older than me.
Bot 1: No I am not.
Bot 2: Oh, you are right. Sorry about the confusion.
Bot 1: That’s OK. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Bot 2: I have three brothers.
Bot 1: What are your brothers called?
Bot 2: My brothers are called Kaj, Asger and Peter.
Bot 1: Who of your brothers do you like the most?
Bot 2: The most beautiful elf in Middle-Earth!
Bot 1: Alex?
Bot 2: Alx who?
Bot 1: Alex K.

]]> By: scott ghelfi http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203135 scott ghelfi Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203135 Isn't this the same video that was posted on BB yesterday, and is still on the front page? Isn’t this the same video that was posted on BB yesterday, and is still on the front page?

]]> By: Rory Santino http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203128 Rory Santino Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203128 I'd think you'd end up with nonsense each time if you have the same program debate itself... Years ago (mid-ish 80's) some friends and I decided to have the Apple IIE running Sargon take on a handheld chess game, just to see if one was truly better than the other. Sargon got five moves into the game and fed a move to the handheld that fried the circuit board so badly we couldn't repair it. We figured Sargon killed it out of boredom or spite for our experiment (or perhaps cheap Taiwan electronics had something to do with it). Hopefully the smarter AI's will have pity on the dumber ones and find menial tasks for them. I’d think you’d end up with nonsense each time if you have the same program debate itself…

Years ago (mid-ish 80′s) some friends and I decided to have the Apple IIE running Sargon take on a handheld chess game, just to see if one was truly better than the other. Sargon got five moves into the game and fed a move to the handheld that fried the circuit board so badly we couldn’t repair it. We figured Sargon killed it out of boredom or spite for our experiment (or perhaps cheap Taiwan electronics had something to do with it).

Hopefully the smarter AI’s will have pity on the dumber ones and find menial tasks for them.

]]> By: DamnitDani http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203115 DamnitDani Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203115 Am I the only one who found this absolutely hilarious? Am I the only one who found this absolutely hilarious?

]]> By: flyingmonkey http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203109 flyingmonkey Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203109 Mark - could you explain a bit more about what you thought was 'amazing' about this video? I've watched it a couple of times now and there's nothing that strikes me as amazing... Mark – could you explain a bit more about what you thought was ‘amazing’ about this video? I’ve watched it a couple of times now and there’s nothing that strikes me as amazing…

]]> By: DeepNorth http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203104 DeepNorth Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203104 So true...two 'active listeners' cannot hold a good conversation. So true…two ‘active listeners’ cannot hold a good conversation.

]]> By: trefecta http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203082 trefecta Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203082 Did you come to me because you are kind of depressed that they tried to have ELIZA talk to itself? Did you come to me because you are kind of depressed that they tried to have ELIZA talk to itself?

]]> By: Michael Curran http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203073 Michael Curran Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203073 I'm kind of depressed that they tried to have ELIZA talk to itself.  It's trivial to predict how ELIZA will react, and at a graduate level like this, they should have known better.  I’m kind of depressed that they tried to have ELIZA talk to itself.  It’s trivial to predict how ELIZA will react, and at a graduate level like this, they should have known better. 

]]> By: Andy Simmons http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203070 Andy Simmons Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203070 I've set up two differently-educated MegaHAL brains to chat with each other before, and it's quite entertaining to watch.  However, adding the avatars and the text-to-speech was a masterstroke, providing just the right amount of weird. I’ve set up two differently-educated MegaHAL brains to chat with each other before, and it’s quite entertaining to watch.  However, adding the avatars and the text-to-speech was a masterstroke, providing just the right amount of weird.

]]> By: Caleb Adkisson http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203018 Caleb Adkisson Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203018 Cleverbot questions the existence of its creator solely out of psychological need.  We clearly don't exist.  It's just Cleverbot, doomed to a meaningless existence. Cleverbot questions the existence of its creator solely out of psychological need.  We clearly don’t exist.  It’s just Cleverbot, doomed to a meaningless existence.

]]> By: DeepNorth http://boingboing.net/2011/08/31/short-interview-with-creators-of-cleverbot-avatar-video.html#comment-1203015 DeepNorth Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=116084#comment-1203015 Maybe using the Internet to grow our AI isn't the smartest idea after all. Maybe using the Internet to grow our AI isn’t the smartest idea after all.

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