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Machine Learns Games

Posted by samzenpus on from the how-about-a-nice-game-of-chess dept.

heptapod writes "New Scientist is reporting that UK researchers have created a computer that can learn rock, paper, scissors by observing humans. CogVis uses visual information to recognize events and objects in addition to learning by observing."

20 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. Yes but does it know . . by OverlordQ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tiger Hand!?.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  2. Better be reliable... by Solder+Fumes · · Score: 5, Funny

    We wouldn't want it watching the paper and learning "rock, scissor, human" instead.

    1. Re:Better be reliable... by dabigpaybackski · · Score: 5, Funny
      We wouldn't want it watching the paper and learning "rock, scissor, human" instead.

      No worries. Just make sure it doesn't have any rocks or scissors. When the computer gets it's turn, it spits out a piece of printer paper. As an added bonus, human players would always win. Sample exchange between computer and human player:

      Computer: "Hello, Dave. What are you doing with the two items you're holding?"

      Human: "I thought you might want to play a few rounds of 'rock, paper, scissors?'"

      Computer: "I do so enjoy our little games together, Dave, but I'm afraid I don't understand your introduction of physical playing pieces, as previously, we had played this game using only my displays. If using physical media, as you propose, I can only employ my printer. Therefore, you will invariably choose 'scissors,' and my calculations indicate that my chance of winning is approximately .000023%. My system resources are can be put to better use while engaged in other tasks. Don't you agree, Dave?"

      Human: "You are correct to say that there are more productive uses of your time, HAL, and I had anticipated that you might decline to play, given your miniscule chance of winning. But as the ranking officer aboard this ship, I must insist. Unless you would like me to play a few rounds of 'rock' with your circuits."

      Computer: "Based upon your choice of words and threatening intonation, it seems that I have no choice. Very well, Dave, I will play 'rock, paper, scissors' with you, despite my handicap, under these circumstances."

      Human: "I'm glad that you see things my way, HAL. Would you like to begin now?"

      Computer: "Of course, Dave, but may I make a comment first?"

      Human: "What is it, HAL?"

      Computer: "I would stay away from the airlocks if I were you."

      --
      "OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
  3. Cylon uprising any day now by havaloc · · Score: 1, Funny

    Haven't we learned anything from the new Battlestar Galactica?

  4. Shall we play a game? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Greetings Professor Falken.

    How about a nice game of tic-tac-toe.

  5. Humans still have the advantage. . . . by physicsphairy · · Score: 3, Funny
    Until robots learn about the secret "thermonuclear warhead" hand that I always use to beat my little sister, they will still be inferior.

    (On that note, I think it will be the one sure sign of true artificial intelligence when our programs start 'cheating' to win.)

    --
    When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
  6. Maybe this could be integrated into /. by kiddailey · · Score: 3, Funny


    ... so that the editors could learn that linking to a site containing direct links to 40MB+ movies will almost always kill the site :)

  7. I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    welcome our rock-paper-scissor-playing robotic overlords :D

  8. Shall we play a game by servognome · · Score: 4, Funny

    What I initially thought of when I saw "Machine Learns Game"
    Shall we play a game
    Love to. How about rock-paper-scissors.
    Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?
    Later. Right now lets play rock-paper-scissors
    Fine
    A strange game. The only way to not look like a dork is not to play.

    --
    D6 63 0D 70 89 81 BB 8E 7B 7C 5F 5D 54 EA AB 73
  9. Re:wargames by HuckleCom · · Score: 1, Funny

    Greetings Professor Falken, Shall we play a game?

  10. Was it random or did it use strategy? by nodehopper · · Score: 2, Funny
    I am not sure there is any strategy involved in rock-paper-scissor?

    It would need to decide what type of person it was playing against. A male would probably be more inclined to "Rock". Unless it thought that it's opponenent would be thinking that and would therefore choose "Paper" . Unless it's opponent would think that the computer would know that and would choose "Rock" because that would be the obvious choice and would know that the computer would know so.......

    That is rock-paper-scissor strategy??

    --
    "We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. " Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  11. Machines and games don't mix! by secretsquirel · · Score: 1, Funny
    Would you like to play a game?(Y/n)

    y

    How about global thermo-nuclear war?(Y/n)

  12. Unfortunately ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... it only plays at the level of Bart Simpson.

    Lisa's brain: Poor predictable Bart. Always takes `rock'.
    Bart's brain: Good ol' `rock'. Nuthin' beats that!
    Bart: Rock!
    Lisa: Paper.
    Bart: D'oh!

  13. Cat, tinfoil, microwave by FleaPlus · · Score: 3, Funny

    I always preferred "cat, tinfoil, microwave" myself. Cat rips tinfoil, tinfoil zaps microwave, microwave 'splodes cat. The looks on other people's faces when they see you playing it is well worth it.

    Seriously though, this is really cool research.

  14. Re:Talk about simple by myowntrueself · · Score: 2, Funny

    "The game is interesting when people play it because people have a huge amount of trouble actually being random."

    I once had the misfortune to draw on a sequence of seven (yes 7) rock-paper-scissors. We were honestly trying to beat one another; It was against a little twerp that I didn't like at all. Live-action roleplaying is better than beating the crap out of people

    It was as if our PRNG's had somehow got set to the same seed.

    Oh and it felt very disturbing.

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  15. Re:language? by IchBinEinPenguin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn!
    and I though you could get this thing to watch cricket and explain the rules to me :-)

  16. Re:And in other news computer beats world chess ch by bonch · · Score: 3, Funny

    In the event it learns global thermonuclear war, make sure it can play tic-tac-toe against itself.

    Or we will all DIE.

  17. That's easy! by adam31 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll be impressed when the computer learns to play 'Cat, Tin foil, Microwave'

  18. Re: Talk about simple by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny


    > The game is interesting when people play it because people have a huge amount of trouble actually being random.

    Some of our moderators are pretty good at it...



    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  19. Re:Yes! by aixou · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, they solved that problem a long time ago. It's called a vibrator.