Kaidan Alenko (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
not_a_whiner) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2012-08-03 01:40 pm
not_a_whiner) wrote in fandomhigh2012-08-03 01:40 pm
Entry tags:
Introduction to Robotics, Friday
You wouldn't be able to tell by Kaidan's face now that he'd spend the majority of the past few days in bed feeling like hell; you wouldn't even be able to tell that he wasn't feeling completely right yet. His mind still felt seven feet up in the air, though, and he was vaguely marveling at his hands' ability to function again.
He didn't smile at the class as they came in, but he did give them time to sit down before he started talking. "So we missed a class last week that was supposed to be about mechanics," he said. "We won't be able to make up for that in the time we've got left, and I have a feeling a lot of you have this down already. So I'm just going to move forth with the original lesson plan."
He figured that if anyone still had lingering issues, they'd... let him know and excuse themselves.
"We're going to be talking about artificial and virtual intelligences, and what defines the two categories," he said. He glanced around the room. "Victor, if you want to do your own say on the topic, you're free to when I'm done. But don't feel like you have to, okay?"
"Council law defines an artificial intelligence as such," Kaidan continued, "'a self-aware computing system capable of learning and independent decision making.' An artificial intelligence is as close to a sentient organic being as you can get while still using computer parts and coding. Every AI has to be stored in what we call a 'blue box', a computer that runs all of its processes and lays down the basics for its personality. Without the blue box, an AI is just data. With one, they become a conscious entity capable of making its own decisions."
There was a brief moment of silence as his eyes flicked towards Victor again. "AIs are currently illegal where I come from," he said. "It's a law stemming from a few hundred years ago, when a species called the quarians decided to start networking their AIs to improve their abilities. Their AIs, called the geth, became completely self-aware and drove the quarians off their home planet in what is referred to as the 'Morning War'."
He was just... not going to get into the whole 'and then the geth attacked the galaxy several hundred years later while being led by an even bigger AI' thing while Victor was in the class.
"The geth are an interesting case, though, because of the way they were set up. Their neural network allows them, not to share memories or sensory data, but pure processing power. A single geth is basically no more self-aware than an animal. A hundred geth are going to be as smart as any group of hundred people you could meet. More than that... well, we're not sure if the growth in intelligence is exponential or additive."
"Anyway, that brings us to virtual intelligences," Kaidan continued, "which is what's important for your drone project. VIs are explicitly programmed in a way to avoid self-aware behavior. They are programs, meant to help communicate with their organic users and manage all kinds of things that people might not be able to. Some VIs will get personality imprints - certain behavior and speech patterns will be programmed into the VI. Most of the time, though, you'll probably not even be able to tell something has a VI, like in the case of extranet VIs or VIs included in armor or biotic upgrades. Those just make sure that the technology is as adaptable as it can be, within certain parameters."
He handed off some hand-outs, since Topher seemed to be missing. "You can find code on the listed websites," he said. "Feel free to experiment with the VI program you put in your drone. If you think you're capable of programming a personality imprint, then by all means, do it. If you don't, well, there's a simple algorithm in there for a VI that can help you keep your schedule."
He didn't smile at the class as they came in, but he did give them time to sit down before he started talking. "So we missed a class last week that was supposed to be about mechanics," he said. "We won't be able to make up for that in the time we've got left, and I have a feeling a lot of you have this down already. So I'm just going to move forth with the original lesson plan."
He figured that if anyone still had lingering issues, they'd... let him know and excuse themselves.
"We're going to be talking about artificial and virtual intelligences, and what defines the two categories," he said. He glanced around the room. "Victor, if you want to do your own say on the topic, you're free to when I'm done. But don't feel like you have to, okay?"
"Council law defines an artificial intelligence as such," Kaidan continued, "'a self-aware computing system capable of learning and independent decision making.' An artificial intelligence is as close to a sentient organic being as you can get while still using computer parts and coding. Every AI has to be stored in what we call a 'blue box', a computer that runs all of its processes and lays down the basics for its personality. Without the blue box, an AI is just data. With one, they become a conscious entity capable of making its own decisions."
There was a brief moment of silence as his eyes flicked towards Victor again. "AIs are currently illegal where I come from," he said. "It's a law stemming from a few hundred years ago, when a species called the quarians decided to start networking their AIs to improve their abilities. Their AIs, called the geth, became completely self-aware and drove the quarians off their home planet in what is referred to as the 'Morning War'."
He was just... not going to get into the whole 'and then the geth attacked the galaxy several hundred years later while being led by an even bigger AI' thing while Victor was in the class.
"The geth are an interesting case, though, because of the way they were set up. Their neural network allows them, not to share memories or sensory data, but pure processing power. A single geth is basically no more self-aware than an animal. A hundred geth are going to be as smart as any group of hundred people you could meet. More than that... well, we're not sure if the growth in intelligence is exponential or additive."
"Anyway, that brings us to virtual intelligences," Kaidan continued, "which is what's important for your drone project. VIs are explicitly programmed in a way to avoid self-aware behavior. They are programs, meant to help communicate with their organic users and manage all kinds of things that people might not be able to. Some VIs will get personality imprints - certain behavior and speech patterns will be programmed into the VI. Most of the time, though, you'll probably not even be able to tell something has a VI, like in the case of extranet VIs or VIs included in armor or biotic upgrades. Those just make sure that the technology is as adaptable as it can be, within certain parameters."
He handed off some hand-outs, since Topher seemed to be missing. "You can find code on the listed websites," he said. "Feel free to experiment with the VI program you put in your drone. If you think you're capable of programming a personality imprint, then by all means, do it. If you don't, well, there's a simple algorithm in there for a VI that can help you keep your schedule."
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no subject
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Listen to the Lecture
Re: Listen to the Lecture
"I have DNA," he blurted. "From my mom. And my ... personality, I guess, my brain patterns, they're tweaked copies of ones from a human. It's not just that some guy typed things until he came up with an AI that could pass the Turing test. If that's all I was, I probably wouldn't bother with school."
He let out a ragged breath. "Um. All that said, I agree it's probably better if your average security droid isn't smart enough to try to take over the world."
Work on Your Drone!
... or bug a classmate so you can use them as the basis for a personality imprint.
Re: Work on Your Drone!
Yes, fine, she totally was.
Talk to the Teacher
OOC