That it is still not human enough to know when the joke’s on it. Thank goodness.
By ET Bureau |
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Will we have to rewrite the description of the adjective ‘robotic’ and deem it a synonym for ‘human’? Don’t laugh, because once they do, that may just happen.
So far, artificial intelligence (AI) has been on track to better humans from menial or complicated tasks to chess and the performing arts. But the one thing AI has not been able to do is spontaneously laugh — at itself or us. The difference between it and us, therefore, is merely a chuckle.
Given that much of humour is based on context — especially in these politically correct times — and even expression and timing, a bank of information can theoretically equip AI to churn out a pun or two, but a proper joke would be a logical nightmare for it to compute.
That database would also not enable it to understand when someone pulls its (metaphorical) leg — and there’s no fun if a machine just doesn’t get it. Why anyone would want to josh around with AI at all is another matter, of course.
The consequences of AI not seeing the funny side and taking things literally instead, of course, is no laughing matter. No wonder some experts insist that on learning that people ‘died laughing’ at a joke, some AI entity in the not-too-distant future could logically conclude that terminating someone or something may be a hoot and proceed seriously to do so. Let’s just keep humour to ourselves.
Table-Top Lamps, Door Locks, Microwaves: AI-Powered Devices Which Can Transform The Way You Live
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From table-top lamps to locks and voice-activated speakers, AI-powered smart assistants are making their way into your home to transform how you live.
From table-top lamps to locks and voice-activated speakers, AI-powered smart assistants are making their way into your home to transform how you live.
Sol is a GE lamp embedded with Amazon’s Alexa voice service. Looking a bit like an annular eclipse of the sun, the lamp, which is named after our closest star, represents the first time the Alexa service made its way inside a lighting product without needing the support of a hub. It allows users to create shopping lists, play music, change the thermostat and even light up lamps in other rooms just by using their voices.
Sol is a GE lamp embedded with Amazon’s Alexa voice service. Looking a bit like an annular eclipse of the sun, the lamp, which is named after our closest star, represents the first time the Alexa ser..
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It is a compact countertop microwave that connects to your Echo device to make cooking easier. Just say, ‘Alexa, reheat one cup of coffee’, and Alexa will start reheating with the appropriate power and time settings. Quick-cook pre-sets mean there’s no need to guess cook times or heat levels when you’re defrosting peas or microwaving a potato.
Image: www.amazon.in
It is a compact countertop microwave that connects to your Echo device to make cooking easier. Just say, ‘Alexa, reheat one cup of coffee’, and Alexa will start reheating with the appropriate power a..
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One of the latest additions to the Nest family of smart home devices, the Nest X Yale Lock is a sleek-looking smart door lock that you can control from anywhere using Nest’s mobile app or web console. It allows you to lock and check your door status with your voice using the Google Assistant. It’s also easy to install and offers features including auto-lock, one-touch locking and a timeline that tells you who has locked and unlocked the door and when.
Image: nest.com
One of the latest additions to the Nest family of smart home devices, the Nest X Yale Lock is a sleek-looking smart door lock that you can control from anywhere using Nest’s mobile app or web console..
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If you’re looking for a speaker with excellent sound quality as well as an in-built smart assistant, the Polk Assist could be a great option. The speaker features Google Assistant, which can help with various tasks, ranging from setting an alarm, to playing your favourite music. Another interesting feature is its built-in Chromecast, which lets you access audio from several compatible apps, including Spotify and Google Play Music.
Image: www.polkaudio.com
If you’re looking for a speaker with excellent sound quality as well as an in-built smart assistant, the Polk Assist could be a great option. The speaker features Google Assistant, which can help wit..
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The Aqua turns your outdoor tap or faucet into an intelligent water outlet, allowing you to control your watering system via Siri, the app, or the onboard button. After a set period of time, the valve shuts automatically. Schedules created in the Eve app are transferred to Eve Aqua, ensuring that it runs completely independently of Bluetooth or WiFi connections. Moreover, based on your tap’s flow rate, the Eve app can calculate the estimated water consumption.
Image: www.evehome.com
The Aqua turns your outdoor tap or faucet into an intelligent water outlet, allowing you to control your watering system via Siri, the app, or the onboard button. After a set period of time, the valv..
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Invoke, with Cortana, is a voice-activated speaker that can play your favourite music, manage calendars and activities, set reminders, check traffic, deliver the latest news and much more. With Skype integration, you can make calls to cellphones, landlines and other Skype-enabled devices. You can also control your smart home devices using your voice to do things like turn out the lights or control the temperature.
Image: www.harmankardon.com
Invoke, with Cortana, is a voice-activated speaker that can play your favourite music, manage calendars and activities, set reminders, check traffic, deliver the latest news and much more. With Skype..
