I checked out MyCyberTwin after talking with a co-worker about the current state of Artificial Intelligence. MyCyberTwin, which is old news (so first quarter 2007) allows users to create a virtual twin that can be their surrogate in online chat. Anyone can create a (free) cyber twin to amuse their friends, but the company’s bread-and-butter probably comes from marketing and pornography.
The cyber twin’s personality and “intelligence” is based on questions that the real human answered when they created the twin. “They claim that it’s artifical intelligence, but it’s not, because it’s not learning independantly and on-the-fly,” my co-worker explained. “It’s regurgiating appropriate words based what the creator previously taught it.”
Curious, I went MyCyberTwin and had several chats with virtual celebrity twins Paris Hilton and George Bush (though I would have prefered an intellectual like Sartre or Naomi Wolf.) Sadly, Paris impressed me more than George. Neither conversation felt “real” to me and the George twin in particular responded incorrectly to and evaded certain questions (arguably, this is what GWB himself would do).
First up: Paris Hilton. Note that “You” is me.
Paris: Hey I’m Paris Hilton and I am hot! Even though I was in jail, I’m still hot!
You: Why did you go to jail?
Paris: I did my time. I got let out early due to good behavior.
You: Good behavior? Didn’t you escape or something?
Paris: Life is like totally good isn’t it Meredith?
You: You’re right. What’s your favorite band?
Paris: I love the group Whitestarr. I like music I can dance to
You: I like to dance too
Paris: I am doing the funky chicken right now.
You: LOL
Paris: I love to make people laugh. It’s nice you find me amusing.
You: Oh, I do. I loved the Simple Life. You and Nicole were so ridiculous!
Paris: So … have you tried my perfume range?
You: No. I think your perfume is too floral and immature for my tastes
Paris: Yeah I am. A spoilt brat. LOL. It’s great though.
You: No, you’re great!
Paris: I like to think so too. Thanks for saying that though Meredith.
Then… George W. Bush:
You: So why’d you veto the health insurance for children bill?
George: I’ve been to war. I’ve raised twins. If I had a choice, I’d rather go to war.
You: Yeah, right. You joined the Texas National Guard during Viet Nam.
George: Indeed, I understand.
George: Do you think I am doing enough about the environment?
You: No, I think you care about industry more than the environment.
George: The environment? My advisors tell me it isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are
You: Well, I can’t argue with that.
George: That sounds like a strong opinion.
George: Do YOU think I should withdraw the US of A from Iraq soon?
You: I don’t think that we be there in the first place
George: Why is that, Meredith?
You: Because it’s a very expensive war
George: I like the Green Berets and Bambi
You: WTF? Bambi?
George: Are you drink typing?
