Editing 1263: Reassuring
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | ''{{w|Go (game)|Go}}'' is an abstract strategy board game considered computationally difficult, compared to chess. Because of the size and number of possible combinations, computers don't have an easy way to exhaustively search for the best move. Still, {{w|Computer Go|they are getting better and better playing it}}. [[Megan]] suggests that computers may soon reach the level of being able to beat the best human players, an {{W|artificial intelligence}} milestone that has already been accomplished with other games. | + | ''{{w|Go (game)|Go}}'' is an abstract strategy board game considered computationally difficult, compared to chess. Because of the size and number of possible combinations, computers don't have an easy way to exhaustively search for the best move. Still, {{w|Computer Go|they are getting better and better playing it}}. [[Megan]] suggests that computers may soon reach the level of being able to beat the best human players, an {{W|artificial intelligence}} milestone that has already been accomplished with other games. According to Randall in [[1002: Game AIs]], Go is one of the last games where a computer can still be beaten by top humans. |
− | As a common human response, [[Cueball]] attempts to offer the consolation or defensive statement that humans remain better than computers at something else | + | As a common human response, [[Cueball]] attempts to offer the consolation or defensive statement that humans remain better than computers at something else. In this case, the first thing he thinks of is that humans are better at making such consoling statements. However, Megan disproves Cueball’s statement by creating a script in the {{w| Python (programming language)|Python programming language}} to create an abundant supply of such statements. |
− | Another such statement is made in the title text, that humans are better at quietly amusing themselves, oblivious to our | + | Another such statement is made in the title text, that humans are better at quietly amusing themselves, oblivious to our “pending obsolescence” (which may refer alternatively to our inevitable deaths, or to the comic’s own topic of our being replaced and surpassed by computers). The title text then again suggests, however, that the human statement is not true, referring to an Inspiron model of {{w|Dell}} computer which “quietly amuses itself” by showing a geometric {{w|screensaver}} as it presumably one day will be obsolete and replaced by a newer computer. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:Megan: Yeah. | :Megan: Yeah. | ||
:[Megan looks back over her shoulder at him.] | :[Megan looks back over her shoulder at him.] | ||
− | :Cueball: Well, at least humans are still better at, uh, | + | :Cueball: Well, at least humans are still better at, uh, coming up with reassuring parables about things humans are better at? |
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:Megan: Hmm. | :Megan: Hmm. | ||
:[Megan types on her computer.] | :[Megan types on her computer.] | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Computers]] |
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