Freefall: DOGGY!

[Rockphed]

After a good portion of it had filled with superheated atmospheric gasses during entry. Fortunately, the fires were put out when the ship flooded.

I think my favorite part of this comic is that nothing is ever bad enough until it gets worse several times over.

[sihnfahl]

I think my favorite part of this comic is that nothing is ever bad enough until it gets worse several times over.

Well, it WAS the most expedient way to get all the fires out, since the fire suppression system wasn't enough.

So it's a case of the 'cure' being bad, but not being as bad as the alternative...

Which seems to be the running theme more. "Okay, we stopped the robots from being destroyed. Now what do we do with several million sentient, free-willed AIs?"

[Lord Raziere]

Well, it WAS the most expedient way to get all the fires out, since the fire suppression system wasn't enough.

So it's a case of the 'cure' being bad, but not being as bad as the alternative...

Which seems to be the running theme more. "Okay, we stopped the robots from being destroyed. Now what do we do with several million sentient, free-willed AIs?"

Knowing this comic?

"Sell them life insurance/replacement parts/teach them how to make the right choices by scamming them/etc."-Sam.

something along those lines, I guess.

[sihnfahl]

Well, someone's Friend or Foe Identifier is working fine...

[HandofShadows]

Really, there are some GREAT lines in this comic.

[sihnfahl]

Really, there are some GREAT lines in this comic.

Aaaand some great lines, but bad implications.

Also ... heh. He makes sure the robots don't get brainwiped because they learn about all the safeguards, but he has no compunction about wiping Florence's short term memory because she's in contact with Dr Bowman.

[HandofShadows]

Aaaand some great lines, but bad implications.

Also ... heh. He makes sure the robots don't get brainwiped because they learn about all the safeguards, but he has no compunction about wiping Florence's short term memory because she's in contact with Dr Bowman.

I think he worried about Florence being in contact with her creator and that he might do something to her mind.

[sihnfahl]

I think he worried about Florence being in contact with her creator and that he might do something to her mind.

Yes, those pesky things called 'ideas'. It's already been one world-shattering event because of Dr Bowman's designs.

[HandofShadows]

Actually I think it's because they suspect that Bowman left some "back doors" in his designs. The Mayor flat out says this at one point.

[sihnfahl]

Actually I think it's because they suspect that Bowman left some "back doors" in his designs. The Mayor flat out says this at one point.

Yes, and he just patched the 'safeguards' in the robots. Plus, Bowman has shown he can get around the blocks they've attempted to put in his way (hacking the drones, the coffee maker, the communications devices...)

But he has no compunction in wiping Florence's short-term memory.

And if Bowman was smart, wiping short term memory wouldn't do a thing; he'd have set something up to immediately put it into long memory.

[Rakaydos]

I suspect Florence will not return from the arctic station in sound mind. Between Bowman's trojans and EU's efforts to counter them, she will be barely reconizable.

Then Sam will swoop in and use the backup Florence made to reset her presonality to just before the GitD crisis. "What happened? did we win?"

[Rockphed]

I suspect Florence will not return from the arctic station in sound mind. Between Bowman's trojans and EU's efforts to counter them, she will be barely reconizable.

Then Sam will swoop in and use the backup Florence made to reset her presonality to just before the GitD crisis. "What happened? did we win?"

Backup? When did Florence do that?

[Rakaydos]

Backup? When did Florence do that?

http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2300/fc02226.htm

[Rockphed]

Ah, she saved a brain config backup, not a brain content backup. Kinda like saving your firefox settings but not backing up your whole hard drive.

[Lord Raziere]

and now Dr. Bowman is having a legitimate mad scientist moment....not cackling mad but disposing of the concept of socks from your designs to improve them is certainly odd, if logical in a way, and kind of qualifies him for it.

[theangelJean]

Well, someone's Friend or Foe Identifier is working fine...

Really, there are some GREAT lines in this comic.

I agree that this comic has great dialogue, but I'm actually confused about what was going on in that particular comic and the ones previous. (Yes, it's a week ago now, I haven't had any typing time since then.)


"If I give the robots permission to patch themselves, we lose the ability to remotely get into their systems. My bosses are going to want those holes left open." "Patch the security holes."

So, in this comic Mr Raibert is talking about security holes. The robots are asking permission to install patches to fix security holes, because presumably these security holes allow remote access to the robots. However in the previous two comics they are talking about "software failsafes". Are these the same thing as the security holes? I thought the software failsafes were more along the lines of the "safeguards" that we were talking about, which Florence has to protect humans (and presumably the AIs do too). Maybe I had the wrong idea, but I thought these "safeguards" were a mental thing, kind of like the Three Laws but more nuanced, rather than brute force security overrides that they seem to be talking about here.

If they are the same thing, that brings to mind an idea: it's a pity Florence can't install a similar patch to disable her own "remote" access...

[Coidzor]

I agree that this comic has great dialogue, but I'm actually confused about what was going on in that particular comic and the ones previous. (Yes, it's a week ago now, I haven't had any typing time since then.)


"If I give the robots permission to patch themselves, we lose the ability to remotely get into their systems. My bosses are going to want those holes left open." "Patch the security holes."

So, in this comic Mr Raibert is talking about security holes. The robots are asking permission to install patches to fix security holes, because presumably these security holes allow remote access to the robots. However in the previous two comics they are talking about "software failsafes". Are these the same thing as the security holes? I thought the software failsafes were more along the lines of the "safeguards" that we were talking about, which Florence has to protect humans (and presumably the AIs do too). Maybe I had the wrong idea, but I thought these "safeguards" were a mental thing, kind of like the Three Laws but more nuanced, rather than brute force security overrides that they seem to be talking about here.

If they are the same thing, that brings to mind an idea: it's a pity Florence can't install a similar patch to disable her own "remote" access...

Well, they may just have had multiple forms of safeguards and fail-safes as well as remote access and even a remote kill-switch in case of robot uprising/mass-malfunction/cyber-terrorism?

[sihnfahl]

Okay, ouch?

High testosterone results in aggressive behavior. To reduce likelihood of aggressive behavior, reduce testosterone levels. One source of testosterone - the testicles.

I do have to say that it's a testament to his determination that he did it to himself. With a spoon.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I'm really enjoying Bowman's story. I have always enjoyed character who are aware of their limitations, and have taken steps to address them to the best of their abilities. Sure, he may be a psychopathic genius, but damn, at least he knows it, and has devoted his life to fixing it (rather than, you know, blaming all humans and trying to take over the world or some such nonsense).

Grey Wolf

[Rockphed]

I'm really enjoying Bowman's story. I have always enjoyed character who are aware of their limitations, and have taken steps to address them to the best of their abilities. Sure, he may be a psychopathic genius, but damn, at least he knows it, and has devoted his life to fixing it (rather than, you know, blaming all humans and trying to take over the world or some such nonsense).

Grey Wolf

You assume that the wolves and robots aren't his method of trying to blame all humans and take over the world.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

You assume that the wolves and robots aren't his method of trying to blame all humans and take over the world.

I will admit I am assuming that, mostly because he seems so ridiculously competent that, if that were his intention, I can't see the plan failing to have worked before now. Of course, if could be a double bluff, and indeed, if we go down that line, and n-bluff where n->∞.

Grey Wolf

[PhantomFox]

I will admit I am assuming that, mostly because he seems so ridiculously competent that, if that were his intention, I can't see the plan failing to have worked before now. Of course, if could be a double bluff, and indeed, if we go down that line, and n-bluff where n->∞.

Grey Wolf

aka, the Vizinni Logic Loop?

[Coidzor]

This definitely explains some things about why the attempt to uplift chimps was such an abysmal failure in the first place.

I will admit I am assuming that, mostly because he seems so ridiculously competent that, if that were his intention, I can't see the plan failing to have worked before now. Of course, if could be a double bluff, and indeed, if we go down that line, and n-bluff where n->∞.

Grey Wolf

Could be playing the long game that instead of ending up as The Culture, humans end up like in Dresden Codak's portrayal of the future given the eventual emergence of an AI god.

If they'd notice any overt attempt to make killbots, why not just make friendly robots that will make humans die the death of pampered pets that have no more agency than a house cat and less inclination to breed than giant pandas?

[Rockphed]

This definitely explains some things about why the attempt to uplift chimps was such an abysmal failure in the first place.



Could be playing the long game that instead of ending up as The Culture, humans end up like in Dresden Codak's portrayal of the future given the eventual emergence of an AI god.

If they'd notice any overt attempt to make killbots, why not just make friendly robots that will make humans die the death of pampered pets that have no more agency than a house cat and less inclination to breed than giant pandas?

Considering that taking a human to meet young robots who have never seen one was considered dangerous without a sneaky plan to disguise him as a robot, you might be on to something.

[Kornaki]

That chimp does not look like he has been wounded in the field of battle.

[Math_Mage]

That chimp does not look like he has been wounded in the field of battle.

Those black dots might be holes in his armor. Otherwise, I agree.

[HandofShadows]

Battle Lawyers?

[Shadowy]

Battle Lawyers?

Battle Lawyers!

[halfeye]

Florence isn't broken! Yay!

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Florence isn't broken! Yay!

Florence is Broken by Design! Ya...

(j/k)

GW