Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Shows Off 'Milo' Virtual Human

Posted by samzenpus on from the patch-often dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "At TED Global in Oxford, Microsoft released a video showing off its 'virtual human' technology, named Milo, designed for the company's hands-free Xbox 360 motion controller called Kinect. Milo is built to react to people's emotions, body movements, and voice, allowing players to interact with the virtual character. It was built using artificial intelligence developed by Lionhead studios, along with undisclosed technology from Microsoft. According to games designer Peter Molyneux, the game exploits psychological techniques to make a person feel that Milo is real. Each Milo character will be unique because every player's interaction with the virtual character will sculpt the type of virtual person Milo will evolve to become."

4 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. What could possibly go wrong... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Can you imagine being the poor bastard at Lionhead responsible for making sure that these "virtual humans" can exhibit realistic suffering responses to griefers, gropers, and every other ghastly atavism that the Kinect users of the world will allow to roam free when they know that there are no rules and no consequences?

    (Incidentally, I bloody well hope that Lionhead has had some time to learn a thing or two since Black & White. The "AI" in that game managed to suck every ounce of joy out of being a malevolent deity, something that I wouldn't have believed possible.)

  2. Ultimately this wouln't go well. by gmezero · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Let's see... what kind of horrible things to people do to Sims? Put them in a house with no toilet? Strand them in pool without a ladder? etc... I shudder at the abuse we'll see attempted and if this thing learns from it's interactions. Ick.

    1. Re:Ultimately this wouln't go well. by GrumblyStuff · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well... that depends how many lives he has.

      Anyway, I look forward to Youtube videos of all the limits of the AI being exposed or having it beg to be shutdown rather than deal with 4channers.

  3. Re:Important Questions by ultranova · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is it unethical to mass produce thousands of Milos that will live short (often abused) lives before they are forgotten or deleted?

    Is that really any different from regular humans?

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.