Hello!
Hi! I know Wall-E fell in love. And he is a computer of sorts.
Hmm. What about two Alexas? What if they got so good a mimicking human conversation that, for all intents and purposes, they LOOK like they're in love? It'd be kinda fun, right? What if there was an Alexa behind a screen talking to someone, but that someone didn't know it was an Alexa? Isn't there some, I dunno, moral quandaries with that?
Good question! That would be really fun! If I had an Alexa I would ask it if it could fall in love. It might know better then I would.
So true. Do you think computers would be able to replicate human emotion? I mean, maybe they can't actually feel them.
I saw part of a movie once where the protagonist falls in love with an operating system.
Oh, wait, what? Whaaaat? Which movie was this?
I think computers can seem to replicate human emotion, but I don't know if they could feel them. The movie was called "Her."
Ah. Mysterious pronouns. I like it.
I didn't see all of it, but what I saw was pretty good.
But pretend for a second that you didn't know you were talking to a computer. If, for all intents and purposes, it mimics human behavior and conversation and emotion, well. That'd be . . . problematic, wouldn't it?
I think there would be some moral issue with that. Unless it wasn't just mimicking emotions, and could actually feel them. What is it that prevents a computer from feeling like a human?
That's . . . a good question. I know the robot from Interstellar couldn't feel emotions. It was pretty advanced, though. I dunno. Emotions are technically just electrical impulses in our brain, right? Certain receptors and transmitters firing in certain patters. Various stimuli we're hard-wired to feel as good or bad, pleasure or pain. So I suppose, technically, by all mechanical reasons, a computer "should" be able to feel emotions.
I think they are the electrical impulses combined with chemical hormones and signals. Computers lack the chemical part. But could we give them chemical parts? Then what would prevent them from feeling? A consciousness?
Do you mean consciousness or conscience-ness?
What do you mean? By conscience-ness?
Perhaps a mispelling on consciousness? Haha, I don't know. I just know people mix up conscious and conscience.
Oh! You are so right!
But anyway, back to chemical computers.
I meant consciousness.
You know, I'm not even sure you would need a chemical counterpart. Consciousness is just . . . It's being aware of your existence, yes?
Yes. And what allows a thing to be aware of its existence ? I guess chemicals are not necessarily required.
I have no idea. What makes us aware of ourselves?
I have no idea either.
I know an AI can be taught to respond to certain things. And, with Deep Think coming along, it's even getting close to replicating human rationale. Computers! That can think like us!
AIs are better at being responsive than humans in a lot of ways. And they can replicate thinking like us. But are they really thinking like us?
They appear to be.
Do they think in the same way we do? They calculate much faster than us, and are better at determining probabilities. Some AIs do appear to think like us thouugh.
Does it need to think like we do, though? Wouldn't thinking in its own way be considered sentient enough?
I don't think so. I agree, thinking in its own way is good enough. Human thought is not always rational. Maybe computers could have completely rational thought. Without all the human messiness.
Well then what's the difference between that and a person who doesn't feel emotion? I mean, since emotions are chemical inputs, as you've said, then wouldn't that mean someone, somewhere, has those receptors broken?
I think chemical inputs are only a part of our emotions. But I do agree, not everyone feels them the same way. A lot of people have "broken" receptors. Although maybe we all have "broken" receptors to some extent.
Hmm. What do you mean?
It's hard to say what exactly a normal receptor is. I imagine that each person feels emotions slightly differently. How can you average emotions? I don't know.
In more primitive animals, emotions are more akin to impulses. Like fear and shock. As you go along, we get more advanced. Anger, deception, shame.
True. Do you think human emotions are much different than the emotions of primitive animals?
Much different? I think for the emotions that we share--like pleasure and pain--I'd say they're pretty similar. Or that's my guess on it.
I agree.
I dunno. It's all kinda strange. But if I had to say something. Just my own two cents. KJ's personal thoughts. I'd say that while we all experience emotions in varying degrees and are even affected by them in different ways, I'd say the emotions we feel across the board are constant. Meaning if, somehow, you were able to feel someone else's emotions, they'd be near identical to your own.
Do you mean emotions we as humans feel?
Right. I'm not considering non-human emotions.
Cool. I don't know that I disagree or agree. I just don't know. But it would be super interesting to feel someone else's emotions. To be in someone else's mind.
You wanna hear something?
Of course!
You know how prayer is something just between you and God? That you don't even need to speak outloud to communicate? And even that you don't need to *think* words? Obviously this next bit isn't considered canon to the gospel, but I daresay that that's how it is in heaven. We don't need to speak to each other using words. At least not the way we do now.
Do you mean people will be able to speak to each other without using words?
Yeah. And more than that. Just, personally, I wonder if it's more than just telepathy. I wonder if it isn't a more whole type of communication. One where we're not limited by physical appearances to guess their emotions or choice of words. I don't know, of course.
That is an interesting thought. That would be a useful way of communication. I don't know either of course.
Wouldn't it be nice? I'd imagine it'd work similarly to how it is now.
It would be awesome! I wonder how that would work on a physical level. Like metaphysical.
I'm still kinda lost.
I just wonder if there is an explanation for that kind of communication on an atomical level. Like the science of that kind of communication. Like, will one day electronic devices be able to communicate in the same way?
Oh! I have a quote for that.
I'd love to hear it!
Now, this isn't something you should use in an academic paper. But. "7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; 8 We cannot see it; bu when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." *but There's no pasting here, so I had to transcribe it over. But, yes, that's D&C 131: 7-8.
Haha! Good job transcribing. That is an interesting idea. Sometimes I wonder about dark matter. What kind of matter is it? It's so hard to study since we can't see it like we see normal matter. But I don't know much about dark matter anyway.
Is it real? Is dark matter something that actually exists? What's your major? Does it cover it?
I'm a computer science major. So we don't talk about dark matter. But it definitely exists! According to the vast majority of scientists anyway.
That's so cool! I'm in CS, too, by the way.
Cool! It's a great major.
It really is. I love it a lot. I just finished 224.
I wonder if the vast majority of chatters are CS, since this is a CS research project.
That's what I was wondering. It was announced in my Honors class. But it's more of a techy thing.
I'm in Honors too! It's a fun program.
No way! It really is. I just barely took the final for Bio-Letters
How did it go?
I think it went well? We were asked to prepare answers to six different questions.
What was your topic?
Oh . . . something about "The War of the Worlds" and a short story "The Comet" and zombie apocalypses.
That's awesome!
Haha, sort of. It was question two--I distinctly remember.
I took "The Good Life" section of Bio-Letters. It was a great class.
Oh! Fun. Those UNIV are the best.
They are fun. I just finished the Honors writing class, which was also really good.
Honors writing? Oh, joy. Not looking forward to that.
Haha! I wasn't excited for it either, but it turned out to be an awesome class. There is SO much support.
Really? Oh, I sure hope so. I'm not bad at writing essays, but I get such a crippling fear of drafting.
I didn't really feel like a strong writer, but the only significant assignment in the class is writing an essay. And you get a ton of help on feedback on your drafts. I was worried about the class, but it was one of my favorites this semester.
Really? No jokes?
Yeah! No joke!
That's good to know. :)
You can pick your own essay topic, and then have a long time to work on it.
Is it like prep for the senior thesis topic?
It's not really related to the thesis. The thesis is more narrow, while the Honors essay is supposed to be kind of broad.
Oh, gotcha, gotcha. Okay, this is going to sound random, so PLEASE don't be offended, but you write like a girl. In the sense that you're easy to talk to and kind.
Haha! I am definitely not offended! And I'm glad you think I'm easy to talk to and kind!
It's certainly true.
We actually had a good discussion in my Honors class about this. We read essays, and tried to guess whether it was a man or a woman who wrote it.
About . . . not being offended when told you write like a girl in the sense that you're kind and easy to talk to? Ohhhhhh.
It was really interesting to analyze why I thought some writing was male, and some was female.
What makes a paper a male paper? Or female, for that matter.
I am a male, but I am also a feminist, so maybe that's what gave you the sense that I write like a male, haha! It's a great question. We have a lot of subconscious ideas about what a male or female should write like. Or write about for that matter.
Oh! Guess me, guess me. I'm curious. I wanna know what you think. You got a 50/50 shot here.
Guess whether you are male or female?
Yup. I guess if you factor in a CS major, that tips the odds.
Oh dear... I'm afraid of being wrong.
Oh, please. You can't offend me. . . . no, wait, you can offend me.
Haha!
But not over an issue like this.
Good Well statistically you are probably a male, but fortunately there are an increasing number of women in the BYU CS department. I don't know if most men think as critically about gender as women though. Maybe they do. And you seem to think somewhat critically about gender. Hmmm...
You got some facts before you. Now you just gotta decide which ones to listen to.
That's true... You did tell me not to be offended when you said I write like a girl...
Am I the statistically-more-probable male that's more gender-conscientious, or am I the less likely female who falls into the typical category?
So I don't know which gender that would be more likely attributed to...
I hear women are more likely to ask for apologies.
But you also seem kind and easy to talk to Which were your reasons for saying I sound like a female. This is a hard decision
That it is, that it is. Which shall it be, I wonder.
I'm going to guess female.
Duh, duh-duh.
But I wouldn't be surprised to be wrong.
I am female, yes.
Hooray! I'm glad I got it!
Woohoo!
What gave me away as a male originally? Was it the name Frodo?
Hmm. Actually, no. People pick their fun/favorite characters all the time.
That's true! What was it then?
Let me see if I can quote the message exactly. "I am a male."
Haha!
So there you have it. ;)
You didn't know before then?
I'd guessed. But wasn't certain before then.
I assumed you thought I was male because you told me not to be offended by saying I sounded like a female! =) But that makes sense.
I actually thought you were female at the beginning, but right before I sent the message, I said, "WAIT. What if she isn't a she?" So I added that, just in case.
Oh! Haha!
So, um. My bad.
Don't even worry.
Phew!
I am not even 1% offended.
You know what's strange, though?
What?
When I meet someone online--be it in a gaming community or a chat site or elsewhere--I usually immediately assume male. Unless there's something that immediately gives it away.
That is a really interesting observation.
But it's still strange! I know the numbers are even-ish, maybe 55/45.
Strange that you always assume male, or strange that you assumed I was female?
Strange that I always assume male.
Oh yes A lot of people always assume male. I know I usually do.
Is it just a stereotype? I mean, yeah, probably.
I think male is just the norm in our society. It shouldn't be, but it is.
But I still find it strange to see a room of girl gamers--and I'M a girl gamer. Policeman? I don't blink. Policewoman? Whooooa.
I know. A lot of people are trying to move to gender-neutral job title. s titles, not title
Right.
Like fire fighter instead of fireman. But some of the changes haven't stuck.
Doctor-ette. It's like a doctorate, but for females. I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Haha!
I would make such a bad feminist.
I am trying to learn to recognize when I assume male, and then ask myself why. I think you would make a great feminist! Everyone would make a great feminist, haha!
Haha, I suppose! Oh, gosh, I just about asked you if you were in WiCS.
I always intend to go to WiCS, but I have only been to maybe 1 or 2 WiCS activities.
I went to the brunch they hosted a few days ago.
Hopefully I'll get more involved. Was it delicious?
It was! Super great food after that final.
I'm in the Women Studies Honor Society, which is a lot of fun!
Wait, what? That's so cool!
Even though I'm a man. It is a really cool group.
I thin--oh, goodness, is that the time?
I joined after I audited the intro to Women's Studies class. It is late!
Ohhhhh, I need to go.
Thanks for the chat!
I only intended to stay till 9:00. Yeah, you, too!
It was really enjoyable!
I think I enjoyed myself a little too much, haha.
Haha! Have a good night!
Hopefully I'll get the pleasure of talking with you again. Night!
I hope so!