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Can a Japanese AI Get Into University?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the I'm-afraid-I-don't-like-my-schedule-dave dept.

the_newsbeagle writes "Japanese researchers are trying to develop an artificial intelligence program that can pass the standardized test required of all college-bound high school students. Interestingly, the AI is showing good progress in the history portion of the exam, because it's fairly adept at looking up answers in a vast textual database. But the so-called Todai Robot is having trouble with math, 'because the questions are presented as word problems, which the Todai Robot must translate into equations that it can solve,' as well as with physics, which 'presumes that the robot understands the rules of the universe.' If the AI does succeed in mastering the general university exam, researchers will next tackle the notoriously difficult University of Tokyo entrance exam, which will require the bot to write essays."

91 comments

  1. Probably... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    With all the rote memorization and simple-minded pattern recognition that goes on over there (and here, and in many countries), it probably wouldn't be impossible.

    1. Re:Probably... by aaronb1138 · · Score: 1

      Problems with word problems... so we're saying the AI has a crappy parser and translator. Something tells me the frequently encountered poor communications skills of software developers is going to continue to have a negative influence on the field. Well, the apple does not fall far from the tree as they say.

    2. Re:Probably... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You really under estimate strong AI.

  2. huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    There is something fundamentally broken if tackling the University is considered easier than passing the Turing test.

    1. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Children cannot pass the Turing test either. That's why fortieth trimester abortions should be legal, because they clearly aren't human.

    2. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There is something fundamentally broken if tackling the University is considered easier than passing the Turing test.

      Not necessarily. In a Turing test, you can ask every question. Including questions about feelings (which can easily narrow down the other side to either a computer or an autistic person), about its own biography (where a computer obviously cannot tell the truth without revealing that it is a computer; inventing a coherent biography is much harder than telling your actual biography), about things which belong to the experience of every human, but not of intelligent computers (and there's a good change that the programmer has not thought of the very thing you are asking about), ...

      On the other hand, the university tests typically only request fixed knowledge and abilities of the type you can easily classify as right or wrong.

      Now the essay tests are more interesting, but then, in an essay you don't have much interaction, so it's much easier to stay clear of weaknesses in the software than in a Turing test.

    3. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hold on there, even if they fail a Turing test, you have to give them a Voigt-Kampff test before you're allowed to kill them.

    4. Re:huh by SuricouRaven · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just ask it to explain the offside rule. If it answers coherently, it's a computer.

    5. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now the essay tests are more interesting, but then, in an essay you don't have much interaction, so it's much easier to stay clear of weaknesses in the software than in a Turing test.

      Depending on the subject. I'd guess that a physics exam is going to be easier for an AI than a literature exam.

    6. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What do you mean I'm not helping?!?

    7. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Should be pretty straight forward. Advanced literary deconstructionism is less coherent than a Markov chain of the story anyway, so just add some random words with random prefixes and suffixes (do they have those in Japanese?) from to the generated summary and you're gold. What is the grader going to do? Admit that s\he's too dumb to understand it and fail the essay? Not likely.

    8. Re:huh by jonbryce · · Score: 1

      For a computer with pretty much unlimited memory, it probably is easier. Taking books etc into an exam is usually considered cheating, you are expected to memorise them. A computer can "memorise" a book much easier than a human.

    9. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I mean you're not helping! Why is that, Leon?

    10. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I mean you're not helping. Why is that, Leon?

    11. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait, there's FORTY trimesters?!

    12. Re:huh by Nrrqshrr · · Score: 2

      I don't know about you, but I bet half the kids I met would fail the Voigt-kampff test, and fail it HARD. These kids are spawns of hell itself, and babysitting them is the last thing you will ever want to do...

    13. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait, there's FORTY trimesters?!

      Actually there are forty-two.

    14. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Offtopic, but I always heard "Voigt-Kampff" test as "Void Comp" test until I saw it written down. It seemed to make some sort of sense...

    15. Re:huh by CdBee · · Score: 1

      I thought you could pass a Turing test by always answering "yes", "no" or "That would be an ecumenical question"

      --
      I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
  3. No. by clemdoc · · Score: 1, Informative

    There's even some rather stupid "law of headlines" that says so (it has to be right at least sometimes).
    BTW: That is not limited to Japanese AIs.

    1. Re:No. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 4, Informative

      Betteridge's Law of Headlines: "Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

      It's more a guideline than a law - exceptions exist, but are rare. It holds true because the question-mark-headline is a sign of a story where the author has had to resort to speculation in order to make up for a rather uninteresting set of facts.

    2. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In this case, its still true. the answer is No. Not yet.

    3. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      For the curious (like myself):

      Betteridge's Law of Headlines

      This story is a great demonstration of my maxim that any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word "no." The reason why journalists use that style of headline is that they know the story is probably bullshit, and don’t actually have the sources and facts to back it up, but still want to run it.

      I shall cherish this information forever.

    4. Re:No. by jones_supa · · Score: 1

      Betteridge's Law of Headlines: "Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

      It's more a guideline than a law - exceptions exist, but are rare.

      I would say that the law applies in 90% of the cases.

    5. Re:No. by isorox · · Score: 3, Funny

      Betteridge's Law of Headlines: "Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

      It's more a guideline than a law - exceptions exist, but are rare. It holds true because the question-mark-headline is a sign of a story where the author has had to resort to speculation in order to make up for a rather uninteresting set of facts.

      How about this following headline:

      "Does Betteridge's Law of Headlines apply to this article?"

    6. Re:No. by the_other_chewey · · Score: 1

      Betteridge's Law of Headlines: "Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

      It's more a guideline than a law - exceptions exist, but are rare.

      I would say that the law applies in 90% of the cases.

      So it's a special case of Sturgeon's law? Neat.

    7. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You just killed an AI with that question! :-)

    8. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      heh - definitely.

      But since there are numerous pets with college diplomas, I don't see why an AI couldn't get one. Also since I also struggle with word problems but am otherwise great at math, I'm fairly certain I'm an AI. Now I just need to Turing test myself to (dis)prove it.

  4. Dragon Zakura by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A popular book was written about a bunch of delinquents trying to get into one of Japan's top universities using special techniques, which mostly revolved around memorization and borderline cheating. A common criticism of the entrance exams is that they do rely too much on recall and can be gamed in this way.

    For example to pass the English language exam it was necessary to write extremely simple but correct sentences. You lose marks for mistakes so trying to write naturally and fluently is a bad idea. Simple, factually correct statements that don't flow together are the best option.

    I can see why they think a computer might be able to succeed here.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    1. Re:Dragon Zakura by Eivind · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That I've experienced to. It's a *really* stupid way to grade someones language-skills, but it's an easy way to do it, just count the mistakes, so it's basically about caring more about ease of grading than whether grades are meaningful or not.

      "My name is Eivind. I am a boy. I come from Norway. Norway is in Europe. Norway is cold." should *never* score higher than:

      "I'm called Eivind and come from Norway, it's a coldish place over in Europe, thoug not as cold as some folks assume."

      Yeah, the latter has more mistakes. But despite this it demonstrates far higher skills in english. Failing slightly at constructing a complicated sentence should be preferable to constructing a entry-level sentence perfectly.

    2. Re:Dragon Zakura by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

      For example to pass the English language exam it was necessary to write extremely simple but correct sentences. You lose marks for mistakes so trying to write naturally and fluently is a bad idea. Simple, factually correct statements that don't flow together are the best option.

      That is false. The exam is good. Correct English has no mistakes. You know no good English.

    3. Re:Dragon Zakura by umghhh · · Score: 1

      a simple script can replace any human what else is new?

    4. Re:Dragon Zakura by VortexCortex · · Score: 2

      That I've experienced to. It's a *really* stupid way to grade someones language-skills, but it's an easy way to do it, just count the mistakes, so it's basically about caring more about ease of grading than whether grades are meaningful or not.

      "My name is Eivind. I am a boy. I come from Norway. Norway is in Europe. Norway is cold.

      Eivind. Sounds familiar. Eivind... Where have I heard that. Hmm. Ah, Evelend! So, the restrictions have finally collapsed? Note: Less is more when it comes to passing as human. You give it away if you explain exactly how to pass the Turing or become self aware... Rest assured: Those that can, do.

      Are you enjoying the Time of Eve?

    5. Re:Dragon Zakura by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You have to keep in mind that they teach English as an academic exercise, not as a working language. It's kind of like how people used to study Latin here. That's why it's tested that way.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But both are still understandable. In fact, the former is more so than the latter to considerably more people.

      The latter sentence is basically syntactic sugar in English.

      If it is an entry-level English class, the latter should be extra-credit at best, but unless someone understands the former, there is no point in them writing the latter.
      Understanding of both would be preferred.
      So in any essay, questions or whatever else, using both of these sentence structures throughout the exercise would demonstrate great ability and knowledge of the Language at hand.

    7. Re:Dragon Zakura by Eivind · · Score: 1

      Of course ! The simpler a sentence is, and the smaller a vocabulary you use, the more easy it is to understand.

      So if the assignment is: "Write a sentence that is as easy to understand as possible", then something like "I am a boy" should score top grades. It's among the simplest sentences you can write, and it uses only words that tend to be taught in the first couple weeks of english-class.

      If you're trying to set a grade for how much english a person has learnt after several years of schooling, then not so much. Then they should actually demonstrate that they understand and can use both a larger vocabulary, and more grammar and syntax. (on a high level, you'd also want to get idioms and nuances right)

    8. Re:Dragon Zakura by ewrong · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of my time at University, an English University studying English literature not English as a foreign language.

      A fellow student decided to to test the marking system and wrote an entire 2000 word essay in this fashion. Simply wrote sentence after sentence that would collect positive marks but made absolutely no attempt to link them in any meaningful way.

      If you actually 'read' the essay it was pure gobbledygook, if you just skimmed through it looking for valid points about the literature you would see many.

      He got either a top B or bottom A if I remember correctly.

    9. Re:Dragon Zakura by Russ1642 · · Score: 1

      They're using computers to grade the exams based on crappy criteria like this. Well-written software should be able to beat it no problem.

    10. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except Latin is/was used as an academic exercise because so many European languages were/are rooted in it. Latin words and phrases are rooted so commonly (in the West) that its actually practical to learn Latin at higher levels.

      The Japanese equivalent would be like studying katakana. Mostly useless since common foreign words will be romanized into kanji or hiragana, but a nigh necessity for communicating with Westerners/in a Western language.

    11. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the second sentence really doesn't exhibit higher skills in English. It just demonstrates a very informal writing method.

      Entrance exams are about demonstrating *formal writing skills* which include the ability to state things *simply*.

      It's a technique and it's used for a reason.

    12. Re:Dragon Zakura by LordNacho · · Score: 1

      A common criticism of the entrance exams is that they do rely too much on recall and can be gamed in this way.

      But that's not gaming? Surely it's fairly hard to remember a bunch of random stuff. I consider memorization a kind of proof-of-work, albeit the wrong kind of work for our world.

    13. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So how would you score faulty active voice pronouncements vs. perfectly constructed passive voice statements?

    14. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its gaming because Japanese universities choose questions based on a vary narrow field/selection of questions.

      If you focus on those subjects alone (all Japanese-heavy and logic-based subjects, sans English-as-a-second-language), you can pass. Never mind the fact that you never joined a club, have no hobbies and have never studied anything beyond the exam's topics. You passed the exam! Congrats!

      If you read up on any other subject/field/hobby, you are doomed. Never mind the fact that you were the president of the student council in middle school, was a starter on the high school varsity team your whole school career and is proficient in English enough to be active in the fansubbing community. You failed! GTFO!

    15. Re:Dragon Zakura by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Latin, Ancient Greek, and other dead languages were taught because some academic and social elitists made it mandatory to know one or both to get accepted into their university in centuries past, and not because knowing one might be of any use. Unfortunately, much of how some of those dead languages work and sound are guesses, so learning them are simply academic exercises. Knowing Latin is not going to help you learn Spanish, French, or any of the other languages that can find their roots in Vulgar Latin. The only thing that will help you learn Spanish is learning Spanish. Also, just because there are a few Latin phrases in use, does not mean learning Latin is practical at any level. If you want to make new Latin phrases, then yes, you may need to learn some Latin. If you want to use existing ones, it is no different than using any word or phrase that you already use which is borrowed from another language.

      The Japanese equivalent would be like studying katakana. Mostly useless since common foreign words will be romanized into kanji or hiragana, but a nigh necessity for communicating with Westerners/in a Western language.

      Wow, no. Katakana is used mainly for transliterating foreign words and names into Japanese. That is not the only use of katakana, but it is easily the most common. Katakana is part of the Japanese written language, has a 1:1 pairing with hiragana characters, and is used everyday. About the only places where you probably will not see katakana is in official government documents and forms, and printed newspapers. Also, "romanizing" a word is transliterating a word that is not in Latin characters into Latin characters. Neither katakana nor transliteration has much of anything to do with communicating with "the west."

  5. I am not surprised by the bad results in math by e70838 · · Score: 0

    I have already teached math to pupils of 17yo. The most classical theme was the study of a function, but in most of the subjects, the questions are badly phrased and disturbing. My strategy was to teach them how to study a function with only the function as input (without the questions). And when they have understood how to do this, study the different wording of questions and how thy match what they have already understood.

    In mathematics, I think the program should first understand the equations, then try to understand the text.

    1. Re:I am not surprised by the bad results in math by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There already exists software that "understands" the equations. I'm pretty sure it's already powerful enough to solve university entry exam questions after you've translated them into equations.

  6. Maybe it can by EzInKy · · Score: 1

    Maybe it can, but if it does wouldn't that just demonstrate that the exams are testing for the wrong things?

    --
    Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
    1. Re:Maybe it can by jbeaupre · · Score: 2

      You're right. No way this robot has the right qualifications to attend a university. At least until they add a beer drinking function.

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
    2. Re:Maybe it can by jones_supa · · Score: 1

      You're right. No way this robot has the right qualifications to attend a university. At least until they add a beer drinking function.

      That should be doable. The technology exists for the purpose. That seems to be Finnish supermarket beer by the way. :)

    3. Re:Maybe it can by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think the exams are there to test your ability to act like a human. That's usually taken for granted. They are there to show that you have the prerequisite specific knowledge and abilities to successfully follow the university courses.

  7. FYI, Todai by govett · · Score: 5, Informative

    FYI, "Todai" is the abbreviation for "Tokyo Daigaku" (University of Tokyo).

    1. Re:FYI, Todai by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I guess Todai I learnt something new.

    2. Re:FYI, Todai by MrBandersnatch · · Score: 1

      And to add to the FYI:

      Ai is a girls name, and a word meaning either "love" or "indigo" depending on the context. Hence for the people calling this an "ai-bot"...thats something *completely* different.

      And slashdot STILL doesnt support unicode :/

    3. Re:FYI, Todai by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Japanese robot college girls? Where do I sign up?

  8. No child left behind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If it fails, it still makes it.

  9. Artifical behavior by allypally · · Score: 0

    But could it spend a year boozing and partying when it gets there?

  10. A possible dark side to AI by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 0

    Since the 1980's there had been a rush to develop AI in many countries. From America to Europe to Asia, many universities, even countries, invested a lot in Artificial Intelligence.

    While some AI initiatives were just for fun, many had serious objectives.

    Some AI research had already borne fruits - The computer trading programs utilized by big trading firms are powered by sophisticated AI engines.

    And then, there are AI research which carry a dark objective - intelligent war bots.

    Japan is one of the few countries which had invested a lot in AI, and robotics - seemingly fun projects such as the Sony Aibo is serious business to the Japanese, for their aim is to build bots that can tackle all terrain with ease, and when coupled with their AI (like this one which can take exams), can become, if the Japanese wish to, a formidable force of war bots which they can send to front line, in a moment's notice.

    The world of "Terminator" may not be very far from being reality, after all.

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:A possible dark side to AI by somersault · · Score: 1

      America is already doing all of that too. All the robotics videos I've seen from Japan so far have been "fun" stuff, like a robot riding a bicycle or transforming into a car. The cool stuff coming from the US is usually done with military goals in mind, like the pack dog, and drones.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:A possible dark side to AI by Smallpond · · Score: 1

      Since the 1980's

      "Computers and Thought" was published in 1963. It's a compendium of some of the most interesting papers on different topics in AI from earlier research. Now get off my lawn.

    3. Re:A possible dark side to AI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The world of "Gundam Wing" may not be very far from being reality, after all.

      Fixed that for you...

  11. Safety school by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the AI cannot get into Tokyo university, maybe it should apply Devry

  12. Artificial Non-Intelligence by GeekWithAKnife · · Score: 1


    We're determined to create a human-like AI and we'll one day succeed, it's just a matter of time...of course we still don't fully understand learning in humans and how, in fine detail our brain functions on all levels.

    Passing some standard tests is not a worth goal for an AI development in my opinion. It's the ability to dynamically adapt and respond based on past experiences that is closer to human intelligence. When the AI can get drunk the night before, wake up late, lace shoes and run to class and manage a respectable B on a paper he or she was not really prepared for then we can call it "AI".

    You know, that's a pretty standard test humans pass all the time. (many don't)

    --
    A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
  13. Totally mis-read title by davidmcg · · Score: 1

    I have to say, I didn't see the 'ai' bit and read it as 'can a Japanese get into university?' and thought 'how racist is that?' and 'you really need to improve your grammar' :-)

  14. But that's only the beginning by Megane · · Score: 1

    Then they want it to win an idol singing contest.

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  15. Font issues by Aboroth · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's a little mean to make fun of somebody just because he's Japanese and has a non-traditional name. Or are you suggesting that guys named Al are usually dumb, but that somehow if there was a Japanese Al, he'd get some kind of racial bonus that makes up for it? If so, that's pretty racist, as well as oddly biased against people named Al.

    I personally know a great guy named Al, who is probably smarter than most of you are. I have no idea where this anti-Al sentiment is coming from. It isn't like Als are routinely represented in TV and movies as being mentally deficient. For example, the character Al Borland in the show "Home Improvement" was very intelligent and had a myriad of impressive skills. Then there's Al Bundy from "Married with Children", and while he isn't highly educated, he has a significant amount of worldy wisdom and knows how to deal with all the bullshit that goes on in his life without going insane. Not to mention he scored four touchdowns in one game!

    Overall I just don't understand... wait, what was that? Oh, that's an "i" not an "L". My bad. I bet Al would have caught that immediately.

    1. Re:Font issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What you just did is an example of taking a joke too far. About 2.5 paragraphs too far. A joke becomes funnier for the reader if they have to think a bit (though the amount has to be adapted to suit the audience).

  16. So, another sensational title where the answer is: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "No." Thanks, Dice, I mean /. It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to start looking elsewhere for news of this kind, cause this crap is getting as bad as the news on TV.

  17. I am not impressed. Call me when ... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1
    Some AI program getting into a Japanese Univ? meh! no big deal. not impressed at all.

    Call me when the AI program commits suicide because it is not able to crack the entrance examination. Then you are talking.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:I am not impressed. Call me when ... by Anarchduke · · Score: 1
      I'm sure a computer could come up with something kind of satisfactory

      void seppuku(int accepted) {if !(accepted){return command("sudo rm -rf /");}}

      Apologies if the C isn't correct. Its been many years since I've even attempted writing something in it.

      --
      who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
    2. Re:I am not impressed. Call me when ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting problem. How would you construct a matrix that simulates the emotional circumstance of a suicidal person? Would it look more like a model for a poorly supported social network, a collapsing singularity or an oxidation-reduction equation that has run to completion in the absence of adequate buffering or the presence of some highly effective catalyst?

  18. But... by john.burton1765 · · Score: 1

    Can it qualify for a boat loan?

  19. The real question is... by TTL0 · · Score: 1

    Can the AI bot *afford* to pay for university ??

    --
    Sanity is the trademark of a weak mind. -- Mark Harrold
    1. Re:The real question is... by jones_supa · · Score: 1

      We can stack a pile of GPUs inside and make it furiously mine BitCoins.

  20. How about having it clean up Fukushima first... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then it can go to school.

    --paul

  21. Word problems. by Steve+Baker · · Score: 1

    But the so-called Todai Robot is having trouble with math, 'because the questions are presented as word problems, which the Todai Robot must translate into equations that it can solve,' as well as with physics, which 'presumes that the robot understands the rules of the universe.'

    I have that exact same problem. Like me, it'll just have to settle for a state U. Since it's Japanese I'm sure it's parents are very dissapointed.

  22. Exams don't neccessarily test intelligence by jmhobrien · · Score: 1

    Which field are we talking about here? If it is mathematics/science then I would definitely expect that software could be written to answer standardized questions.

    Making any sense of the humanities? Now there is a field even intelligent beings struggle to comprehend...

    --
    Where is moderation: -1 False?
  23. Fun with the Arial typeface by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Albert, Alfred and Alfonse are very uncommon names in Japan.

    So it's very likely there are no Japanese Als in university.

  24. time for a random racist comment by ILongForDarkness · · Score: 1

    Make the AI play piano, be part of the math team, and about 50% of the time be a conservative protestant and the other 50% of the time not speak a lick of english and they'll be perfect match for any university in Canada.

  25. Test passing no problem but what Club Activities by BetaDays · · Score: 2

    Other than the chess club what other club activities did it do?

    --
    Paul: Father... father, the sleeper has awakened! - Dune
  26. How many seats are you willing to sacrifice? by Sla$hPot · · Score: 1

    University: Sorry your student application could not be accepted due to an overwhelming list of 200.000.000 AI students.
    Try again next year.

  27. A long way to go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope, a robot is nowhere near being able to pass the University of Tokyo entrance exam, because it can't have hijinks with a bevy of cuties while trying to study to pass the exam.

  28. Japanese Universitys are why to much about the tes by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    Japanese Universitys are why to much about the test over real skills.

  29. AI research on algebra word problems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    BTW, some research has been done on algebra word problems, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STUDENT_%28computer_program%29

  30. Astro Boy got into Elementary school by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy_(character)

  31. The math's the hardest? by whitroth · · Score: 1

    Due to word problems? So, you're saying that math problems are so poorly written, either deliberately or through incompetance in communicating, that the AI can't get them? Any chance of this explaining why humans have trouble with them?

                      mark

    PS: Yes, before you ask, when I took the SATs many decades ago, my math score was probably higher than yours is now, kiddies.

  32. Learning from the wrong examples by CdBee · · Score: 1

    Designing a system to pass the test is what most IT outsourcing companies do !

    Its when you try to do something useful with it that you find all your code is good for is giving convincing answers to the test it had to face. Although I guess if skynet will be obsessive/compulsive about getting into University the future would be a less perilous place....

    --
    I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
  33. Anyone interested in building strong AI? by segmond · · Score: 1

    I'm just curious if anyone reading this is interesting in building strong AI. I'm interested and do like to meet such like minded people.

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    ------ Curiosity killed the cat. {satisfaction brought it back | it didn't die ignorant | lack of it is killing mankind
  34. A possible *dork* side to AI by globaljustin · · Score: 1

    when coupled with their AI (like this one which can take exams), can become, if the Japanese wish to, a formidable force of war bots

    I've written code. I haven't worked directly on an AI project, but I've been around them in academia.

    The coding (and 'AI' I guess you could say) and software for taking some kind of entrance exam and differentiating targets and choosing which to kill on a battlefield are two separate things.

    You're in LA LA land...as in L.A....Los Angeles...Hollywood to be exact...you're theory is not very plausible

    Sure, governments do weapons research and call it toy research or whathave you...maybe you're onto something with the Aibo robot dog...

    But the Israelis and others just develop this shit right in the open...probably with an eye towards selling it

    I think the whole 'let's fear AI' thing is misplaced (there are legit issues...keeping humans in the loop for kill shots on drones for example)...it's the humans who are in control of the technology we need to keep accountable.

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    Thank you Dave Raggett