Science

The researchers at Standford University are all atwitter that they figured out how to make a computer simulation seductive to college students.

AI Seduces Stanford Students

Student Researchers at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab strapped 69 student volunteers into an immersive, 3-D virtual-reality rig, where test subjects found themselves sitting across the table from a "digital agent" -- a computer-generated man or woman -- programmed to deliver a three-minute pitch advocating a notional university security policy requiring students to carry ID whenever they're on campus.

The anthropomorphic cyberhuckster featured moving lips and blinking eyes on a head that nodded and swayed realistically. But unbeknownst to the test subjects, the head movements weren't random. In half the sessions, the computer was programmed to mimic the student's movements exactly, with a precise four-second delay; if a test subject tilted her head thoughtfully and looked up at a 15-degree angle, the computer would repeat the gesture four seconds later.

For the other half of the participants, the program used head movements recorded from earlier students, ensuring they were realistic but unconnected to the test subject.

The results, were dramatic: Only eight of the subjects detected the mimicry (one of them falsely). The remaining students liked the mimicking agent more than the recorded agent, rating the former more friendly, interesting, honest and persuasive. They also paid better attention to the parroting presenter, looking away less often. Most significantly, they were more likely to come around to the mimicking agent's way of thinking on the issue of mandatory ID.

On one level this is kinda cool. But so what?

You don't need computers to convince people to do things - you need attractive people. To a normal heterosexual male, an attractive woman can persuade him to agree with pretty much anything.

Her: "I enjoy drinking raw sardines fresh from the blender. Would you like a glass?"

Him: "Are you kidding? I'd love one. Yum!"

This is why mass social movements are more likely to succeed if attractive women join them.

Case in point: If I asked you to give me $5 bucks for no other reason than I need a pint of beer tonight - you would laugh in my face.

Now if the person in the video below asked you for $5 - what would you do?

She isn't mimicking your movements, or even talking for that matter, but admit it: you tried to shove money through the screen. I'll bet many male readers combed their hair and tried to strike up a conversation.

In fact, you probably aren't even reading this last sentence, are you?

Read counterpoint here. (pdf)

Tags: mimic - chameleon effect

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While doing research for a post, I found out that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld have slime-mold beetles named after them.

I can't believe I didn't already know this!

According to Wikipedia:

Agathidium bushi, Agathidium cheneyi, and Agathidium rumsfeldi are species of slime-mold beetles named after George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld, respectively, by two former Cornell entomologists, Dr Kelly B. Miller (now at Brigham Young University) and Dr Quentin D. Wheeler (now at the Natural History Museum).

Apparently, this was not meant as a slight against them, but as a compliment. According to Dr. Wheeler:

"We admire these leaders as fellow citizens who have the courage of their convictions and are willing to do the very difficult and unpopular work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy rather than accepting the expedient or popular."

With Dr. Wheeler's words in mind, let's compare the two:

No doubt about it, the creature on the right should be honored to be associated with such a gentle, environmentally friendly animal who has never killed, tortured or maimed anyone.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags: Rumsfeld - Agathidium - Beetles - The war criminal, not the band

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