(4) Puzzles I

[cramschoolgod]

A.) [Action: Sasaki is taking a walk around town, looking pleasant and sociable, wearing her purple dress from home. At the moment, she seems to be deep in conversation with a drone, actually, a pleasant-looking young man with a baseball cap on. She's asking him an array of question, including "What time is it going to be three hours from now?", "

Comments

phone

[iinchoucat]

What time was the phone call?

[cramschoolgod]

Well, ah, that's not a yes-or-no question. However, let's say it was about one in the morning.

[iinchoucat]

Ah, my mistake. I'll stick to it more next time.

[She hums.] Was the caller someone who worked in the hotel?

[cramschoolgod]

It's not really a problem. Questions that can be answered simply, like that, I would say, are admissible.

And no, the caller was not an employee.

[thief_of_truth]

The man was deaf because of an explosion or an accident or something and was pretty sure he'd never be able to hear again, so when the phone woke him up, even though nobody was on the other end, he was really relieved because his hearing was back!

[Kay has probably missed the point of this exercise.]

[cramschoolgod]

[A small pause.]

Ah, well... ahaha, that's the kind of situation that occurs in a riddle, true, but it's not the solution to this one. The goal is to ask questions until you figure out the answer, not to simply guess possibilities.

Still, I commend you for your inventive thinking!

[thief_of_truth]

Oh, okay. Um... was the caller a relative?

[cramschoolgod]

No, she wasn't.

A good question, though. To save some time, I'll add that the caller was not a friend, either.

phone

[letunityblossom]

Those are always interesting to think about. Was it a wake-up call?

[cramschoolgod]

I'm glad you agree. Hmm, Lithuania-san, right? How have you been?

And the answer is no, it was not.

[letunityblossom]

Yes, that's right. I've been well, Miss Sasaki, and you?

Ah, and you said the person calling felt better?

[cramschoolgod]

Fairly well. I've been able to fill my time with interesting experiments and the like.

Yes, that's right.

[sosnarrator]

[Kyon is walking along when he sights Sasaki, what is she talking with that drone about?]

Hey! What's up?

[cramschoolgod]

Ah, Kyon! I noticed your friend Asahina was droned. I find it really interesting how well her appearance still fits with some aspects of the drone personality, though of course, it must be an unfortunate shock to you.

As for me, I'm testing the intelligence of the drones.

[sosnarrator]

Right, I didn't need a reminder about that.

Testing their intelligence, huh?

[cramschoolgod]

[She smiles.] Of course, I apologize. It's the first person I recognize in such a format, though, and ... well, suffice it to say, it's an interesting display.

Yes, that's right. I wonder how closely they approximate humans. After all, they come much closer than any artificial intelligences found in our world, but not so close as my assigned mother, Glados-san.

A

[getsciencedone]

[Not!daughter, have not!mom coming over.]

....What are you doing?

[cramschoolgod]

Ah, Glados-san, good afternoon. I'm testing the intelligence of the drones. You know that, among others, the psychologist Howard Gardiner theorized about 'multiple intelligences' in humans. I'm curious to see how well drones mimic the intelligence of humans--whether they process language, mathematics, and facts, and maybe most interestingly, whether they possess the capability for 'lateral thinking' or creativity.

And how are you?

[getsciencedone]

How are they preforming so far?

As well as can be expected here.

[cramschoolgod]

Hmm, well, they tend to handle correctly questions of significant ease, avoid questions of any substantive difficulty, and not understand questions that require any particular subtle thinking. They are, in a word, not particularly impressive, though still far beyond the artificial intelligences of my world. I don't know what the precise dividing line is, though... if there is even such a thing.

Oh? How are the engineering projects?