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posted by martyb on Thursday May 31 2018, @09:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the OK-Google,-open-the-pod-bay-doors dept.

Google Assistant fired a gun: We need to talk

For better or worse, Google Assistant can do it all. From mundane tasks like turning on your lights and setting reminders to convincingly mimicking human speech patterns, the AI helper is so capable it's scary. Its latest (unofficial) ability, though, is a bit more sinister. Artist Alexander Reben recently taught Assistant to fire a gun. Fortunately, the victim was an apple, not a living being. The 30-second video, simply titled "Google Shoots," shows Reben saying "OK Google, activate gun." Barely a second later, a buzzer goes off, the gun fires, and Assistant responds "Sure, turning on the gun." On the surface, the footage is underwhelming -- nothing visually arresting is really happening. But peel back the layers even a little, and it's obvious this project is meant to provoke a conversation on the boundaries of what AI should be allowed to do.

As Reben told Engadget, "the discourse around such a(n) apparatus is more important than its physical presence." For this project he chose to use Google Assistant, but said it could have been an Amazon Echo "or some other input device as well." At the same time, the device triggered "could have been a back massaging chair or an ice cream maker."

But Reben chose to arm Assistant with a gun. And given the concerns raised by Google's Duplex AI since I/O earlier this month, as well as the seemingly never-ending mass shootings in America, his decision is astute.

"OK Google, No more talking." / "OK Google, No more Mr. Nice Guy." / "OK Google, This is America." / "OK Google, [Trigger word]."


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  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:03PM (10 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:03PM (#686947) Journal

    Ok, Google, Make me a sandwich.

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:14PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:14PM (#686955)

    Ok, Google, Make me a sandwich.

    Dear Freeman you may now identify as a sandwich. -- Google

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:03PM (2 children)

      by Freeman (732) on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:03PM (#686974) Journal

      The AI needs much improving.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
  • (Score: 4, Funny) by Hartree on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:26PM (2 children)

    by Hartree (195) on Thursday May 31 2018, @10:26PM (#686961)

    "Ok, Google, Make me a sandwich."

    Uh... Google, just why are you chasing me with a carving knife and a loaf of bread?

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:10PM (1 child)

      by Freeman (732) on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:10PM (#686977) Journal

      This AI needs to be 3 laws compliant. This is what we get when we aren't 3 laws compliant.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
  • (Score: 4, Funny) by PartTimeZombie on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:33PM (1 child)

    by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Thursday May 31 2018, @11:33PM (#686983)
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 01 2018, @12:59PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 01 2018, @12:59PM (#687213)

      Shouldn't he ask for the password first?

  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 01 2018, @04:55AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 01 2018, @04:55AM (#687098)

    Ok, Google, Make me a jew.

    *Google chases you with a knife and cuts off half your penis and sucks off what is left*