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November 22, 2008 1:12:32 CST

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Your Pal in Second Life May Be a Robot

Posted May 18, 08 7:25 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  Technology 

(Newser) – Scientists are creating virtual robots in a virtual world with the hope of simulating real people. Got it? Second Life is prime testing ground for artificial intelligence because it allows experts to exert more control over their creations. “It’s a very inexpensive way to test out our technologies right now,” one says.

Scientists plan to let their avatars roam the virtual world freely, and they’re getting close: By training one robot to guess others' thoughts, they’ve raised it to the level of a toddler, the AP reports. Second Life is a “fantastic sweet spot,” said one computer science professor: “not too simple, not too complicated, (with) high cultural value.”

Source Associated Press

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"Second Life" is a prime frontier in AI research because it's a controllable environment where testing intelligent creations is easier.   (KRT Photos)
Scientists are seeking out "Second Life" to test their creations of artificial intelligence.   (Getty Images)
Scientists have been hard-pressed to develop a computer program that's smart enough to mimic a real person.   (Getty Images)
The ability to make inferences about the thoughts of others is significant for an AI agent.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
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