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DARPA Builds Smarter Version of Microsoft's Clippy

Posted by samzenpus on from the dead-but-dreaming-of-electric-sheep dept.

holy_calamity writes "Microsoft's animated paperclip may be long dead, but a $150m DARPA project has resurrected the idea of a virtual assistant. AI researchers from more than 60 institutions worked on the project entitled CALO. CALO is designed to help ease the bureaucratic burden of the military. A consumer spinoff, Siri, is coming to the iPhone later this year. It responds to conversational voice commands to take over multi-step tasks like choosing and booking restaurants or cabs."

5 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Is it time yet... by mrgiles · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can imagine it now.
    You: "Oh, shit, there go the neighbours!"
    iPhone Clippy (aloud): "I see you are trying to avoid your neighbours. Would you like me to. . . "
    You: "Shut up shutup SHUTUP!"

  2. Re:Hi! It looks like you want to kill insurgents? by MaXintosh · · Score: 5, Funny
    I seem to grok that this is more for the brass, to manage day to day things. Obviously, it'd be more like this:

    Hi! It looks like you're writing a justification for an un-winnable war against a nebulous enemy. Would you like help?
    * Get help distancing yourself from the blunders of the previous commander.
    * Just stumble through this conflict alone.

    [] Don't remind me of Vietnam again.

  3. Re:Is it time yet... by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one found Clippy to be annoying as hell, and was DAMNED glad they killed him.

    Clippy, virtual assistant. A program barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

    --
    If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
  4. Well... by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 5, Funny

    I, for one, refuse to download that App until it has a voice like Douglas Rain and calls me Dave.

    --
    http://twitter.com/OLDTELEGRAM
  5. Re:Is it time yet... by Crudely_Indecent · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh, shit...

    Clippy: I've located several public bathrooms and a large cluster of shrubs nearby. Would you like directions?

    --


    "Lame" - Galaxar