I, For One, (Almost) Welcome Our Waifu Overlords

Source: User Scarheart's blog.

...

In all seriousness, once I managed to stop my skin from trying to crawl off, slash the hysterical laughter?

I can see some potential in this 'Gatebox.'

Hear me out.

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If you've got a lot of wifi capable stuff anyway, load up a less cringe-worthy waifu avatar for the system...

Well, you'd basically have the alpha version of #431 rushing headfirst towards the rule of first adopters, wouldn't you? Just less actually self-aware and employed person that happens to be synthetic helping you, more creepy, dead-eyed anime doll making sure the socially starved keep breathing and making money for another decade.

...

That came out wrong, but somehow I can't say I feel it inaccurate either.

Anyway, I can see the logic to it. Smart-homes are slowly starting to become an actual, real thing real people use and live in instead of just demo stuff at conventions. Why not have, say, 'Rarity' text you: 'Darling, remember to stop and buy some more milk! ' instead of the some exact information from House#1 going: 'Note to owner, milk (#1) expires soon?'

Sure sounds more fun and engaging—as long as the conversations feels organic enough, of course.

Still, not something I'd personally drop 3K on anytime soon. Not until there's a whole lot more 'I' then 'A' in the persona chip, if you know what I mean, but an interesting first step towards a Rosie the maid in every home nonetheless.

Comments

[Chrome Masquerade]

Oddly, i find myself thinking of

[fluffyunicorns]

This device probably uses certain predetermined responses to words, and it may be customized in the future, becoming better suited for the needs of individuals through learning. It has a lot technical details, I am not going to bore you on that. But it is very questionable that if AI will ever be able to reach near human intelligence.

The reason such devices are popular in Japan is that they work over 10-12 hours each day, so most people don't have time to meet, marry and have kids. These kind of devices work as a substitute and they also contribute significantly to very low birthrates in Japan.

I will go even further and claim that these devices can lead to detachment from reality. It is not innocent as it seems.

[AppleTank]

Door locks
<I'm afraid I can't let you out, Dave>

Sudden thought: "The problem with the early phylacteries Gateboxes were the Uncanny Valley, so we circumvent it by using ponies"

Dun dun DUN

[caloricmango]

4409944

"The problem with the early phylacteries Gateboxes were the Uncanny Valley, so we circumvent it by using ponies'

haha nice

[book_burner]

Anyway, I can see the logic to it. Smart-homes are slowly starting to become an actual, real thing real people use and live in instead of just demo stuff at conventions. Why not have, say, 'Rarity' text you: 'Darling, remember to stop and buy some more milk! ' instead of the some exact information from House#1 going: 'Note to owner, milk (#1) expires soon?'

Because I like to reserve personality for my sentient machines, rather than my non-sentient ones.

[ssokolow]

4409615

Yeah. Japan's having a bit of a population crisis because their culture values dedication to work so much that young people don't have the time or energy for relationships, some of them are literally working themselves to death or suicide trying to compete, and it's considered a clever solution that one company has decided to shut off the power in their offices after 7PM.

(I'm guessing that it worked out in the past because "snagging and keeping a man" used to be the career that women were required to be dedicated to while, now that financial independence is an option, they'd rather sacrifice relationships than independence.)

[Lord Of Dorkness]

4409615
4410321

Yeah... Japan is really rather unique among first-world countries in a lot of ways. Both priories, ideas and... well, hang-ups, you don't really see any other place in the world.

There is an interesting thing to think about that the same cultural obsession with giving 100% all the time is lauded when somebody is working themselves to death, making tea or keeping dolls, while loathed when grokking video-games, drawing comics or not drinking hard enough when out with the work-buddies.

But... well, let's be honest, it's far too easy for that discussion to degrade to: 'Oh, Japan~! and leave it at that.

Didn't feel like I was sure I'd keep things on the right side of that line while writing 00:01 yesterday, so I chose to leave that aspect mostly out instead.