28 February 2001 - baby programs

Jay Scott : Daily Whale : archive : 2001 : 28 February 2001

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The Paradox of Indirect Intentionality

Computers do what they’re programmed to, except when they’re programmed not to. The programmer can achieve surprise in either of two ways. One is to discover, after a fun all-night coding session, that important precautions were omitted. The other is to rejoice, after difficult labor, in the birth of a baby program whose potential can only be guessed.

clue:

In memory of Claude Shannon, 1916-2001. He said: “Computers can only do what we tell them now, but it will be different in the future.”

give me a clue so sweet and true

the Daily Whale || copyright 2001, 2024 Jay J.P. Scott <jay@satirist.org>