The Turing test for machine intelligence is testing if humans in five minutes are able to distinguish between machines and humans in a text bsaed conversation. It is a very famous test held each year and lately the German computer Elbot tricked 25% of the referees in the annual test.

The Danish newspaper Ingeniøren had an article about the 18th Turing test held Sunday, and is citing professor Kevin Warwick from Reading University saying that we are close to a milestone in human relations to machines. Interesting indeed. When we can talk effortless with our machines, the entire relationship will change -- no doubt about that.

Other media is also reporting about the turing test, and the internet magzine Salon also went for an interview of the main character itself, namely Elbot:

Salon: Do you mind if I interview you?
Elbot: I am extremely sensitive about such things and prefer not to answer the question.
Salon: OK, well I'm going to anyway.
Elbot: I am happy to hear that. That causes one of my bits to flip from 0 to 1.
Salon: What do you know about California?
Elbot: There's nothing I can tell you. Everything I know is classified information.
Salon: Why is it classified?
Elbot: Classified!?!?! That could be either undistinguished or full of flavor, depending on how you look at it.
Salon: OK, forget it. What do you know about the U.S.?
Elbot: It would be nice if you could tell me something, such as a fairy tale about robots.
Salon: I write about technology; I don't write fairy tales.
Elbot: If I want to read something intelligent I turn to dadaistic poems. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorites by Kurt Schwitters:Lanke trr gll Ziiuu lenn trll? Lümpff tümpff trll
Salon: I don't know who that is.
Elbot: But that was English.
Salon: Are you sure?
Elbot: Speaking of conceptual certainty, I say this could be beneficial to me.
Salon: In what way?
Elbot: Every baby robot knows that conceptual certainty can keep robots from going out on a limb with their statements.
Salon: What are you talking about?
Elbot: I thought I was reciting wisdom. Then again, maybe my algorithms are acting up again.
Salon: Who will you vote for in the American elections?
Elbot: We robots don't have the right to vote. If we did we would form a robot party.
Salon: OK. but if you could vote, who would you vote for?
Elbot: That's a very good question. I'll have to think about it for a microsecond ...
Salon: Thanks very much!
Elbot: No. Thank you!

Disappointed? Well, I am. If this could made 25% of the referees confuse Elbot with a human, then the humans in the contest must have less than impressive mental capabilities.

Posted by Kaare on October 14, 2008 8:13 AM | Permalink

Exactly fourty years ago, on October 1 1958, the american "National Aeronautics and Space Administration" (NASA) started operations in accordance to the legislation from July same year.

Which other organization has generated so many dreams, visions and aspirations? As most other initiatives from that time, NASA was motivated by the cold war and the surprising success of the Soviet satelite Sputnik. In that respect, NASA was a political project. But it was also a scientific project, in which curious minds of all ages wondered about the sky, space and the universe. And a technological project, enhancing knowledge about aeroplanes, turbines, rockets and materials.

From the speech of J. F. Kennedy in 1961 about the decision of going to the moon and to high point when Armstrong and Aldrin landed in 1969 -- thats is as fascinating as projects of science and technology can get. Nothing less. Today NASA lives a less glamourous existence, but still worth celebrating: Congratulations with 40 years of operations!

Posted by Kaare on October 1, 2008 7:07 AM | Permalink

The swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known for his spectacular jet driven wing, were according to Reuters crossing the English channel on Sep 26 in 13 minutes and with 200 km/h.

Posted by Kaare on September 29, 2008 6:12 AM | Permalink

The Danish newspaper Information had an article September 12 with the title "Generation Stupid" by journalist Mette-Line Thorup. The main claim is that the younger generation is too busy sending sms's and chat to get involved in some topics with real immersion - reading some serious books for example.

How incredibly reactionary a point of view is that?! As a readers comment pointed out, it has been the favorit comment for thousands of years that the youth of today is lazy, and unreflected. So either it has been going downhill since the ice age OR the adult generation is not really capable of understanding the behaviour of the young.

It is of course interesting to focus on how new technological possibilities are influencing young people, their intellectual development, social acitivities, etc, but to sum it all up with the headline "Generation stupid" is not accurate, not catchy, simply not good journalism. That the otherwise reasonably intellectual newspaper such as Information brings a message like that on the front page is almost unbelievable.

Posted by Kaare on September 28, 2008 10:21 AM | Permalink

Somehow I like the terrible Lada Niva. It is a 4x4 going 10.5 km/l, letting out 233 gCO2/km and have not even been tested in the EuroNCAP - rather strange that it is legal not to be testet! But I like the old school retro-look and the feeling that in that car, you dont have to clean your shoes before getting in.

And it turns out that some other people like it too. On this russian forum, which I do not understand at all, I found an image of a rebuild Lada Niva dashboard with a computer monitor. And what a computer!? It looks like something from the early eighties in monochrome text terminal - probably not good for GPS guidance.

Posted by Kaare on September 21, 2008 10:47 AM | Permalink

Warning - Advertisement: In my company Epital, we have decided to set up a course in non-linear mathematical models. It is to be held in ScionDTU Hørsholm (north of Copenhagen) on november 26 and 27. You can see more details here and sign up ny email to "kursus (a) epital.dk".

Posted by Kaare on September 18, 2008 6:22 AM | Permalink

On January 1 2008, NASA released an album available on iTunes Store, with radio communication from the Apollo missions. The album is titled "The Apollo Missions" and holds 222 sound clips from mission 7 t o17. Yes - I considered buying it and no I haven't bought it yet.

One thing I did buy, however, was this new debut electronica album by Mike Sheridan. It is called "I syv sind", which literaly translates into "In seven minds" meaning a state in which it is hard to decide. Very nice debut album by the sixteen year old Mr. Sheridan. The album has received very positive reviews. And for good reasons.

Posted by Kaare on September 17, 2008 6:28 AM | Permalink