What's up with the extremely late comic postings over the last week?
This is an interesting strip and addresses the issue raised by many readers about how much an AI, who, theoretically, can change chassis at a drop of a hat, could consider any body 'theirs'. It appears that it is psychosomatic, to a certain extent. If a synthetic regards a certain chassis as 'their body' as opposed to a shell in which they move around, then they have stronger reactions to its sensory input and have a genuine feeling that 'this is me'. This also greatly increases the degree to which their subconscious processes elaborate on sensory input, explaining how Roko's feet are hyper-sensitive and Bubbles has such a strong reaction to Faye touching her in various locations which, for a lack of a better term, we must consider 'erogenous zones'.
FWIW, I suspect that May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her.
I assume that this phenomenon is recognised by The Powers That Be and strong laws exist in removing 'integrated' AIs from their chassis unless there is an overwhelming public safety argument.
What's up with the extremely late comic postings over the last week?
Jeph is on vacation in France. The posting time is now linked to when he wakes up, which is about 8-10 hours later than it is when he's back home in Halifax.
What's up with the extremely late comic postings over the last week?
Jeph is on vacation in France. The posting time is now linked to when he wakes up, which is about 8-10 hours later than it is when he's back home in Halifax.
The Math with geography plus universal standard time does not add up.
Newfoundland UTC−03:30
France UTC+01:00
So normally their day starts earlier by 4.5 hours. Has Jeph changed his day/night cycle while in France? :psyduck:
... May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her ...
This is an interesting strip and addresses the issue raised by many readers about how much an AI, who, theoretically, can change chassis at a drop of a hat, could consider any body 'theirs'. It appears that it is psychosomatic, to a certain extent. If a synthetic regards a certain chassis as 'their body' as opposed to a shell in which they move around, then they have stronger reactions to its sensory input and have a genuine feeling that 'this is me'. This also greatly increases the degree to which their subconscious processes elaborate on sensory input, explaining how Roko's feet are hyper-sensitive and Bubbles has such a strong reaction to Faye touching her in various locations which, for a lack of a better term, we must consider 'erogenous zones'.
FWIW, I suspect that May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her.
I assume that this phenomenon is recognized by The Powers That Be and strong laws exist in removing 'integrated' AIs from their chassis unless there is an overwhelming public safety argument.
FWIW, I suspect that May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her.
Bodily integration is nice and all, but ... Bubbles + yoga pants. Daaaaaaaaang.
FWIW, I suspect that May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her.
May also may just not WANT to be in that body. At all. So it, in turn, kinda falls apart due to poor care.
In other words, Jeph is sleeping.
No comic today?It's up now.
They're likely used and purchased in bulk by the State. Hence May's being out of warranty despite her being in it for less than a year. The parole officer specified that HE wasn't authorized to pay for repair or replacement.
FWIW, I suspect that May is a good example of a non-integrated AI. Chassis failures on a scale that Roko would find traumatic to a disabling degree are just annoyances and inconveniences to her.
May also may just not WANT to be in that body. At all. So it, in turn, kinda falls apart due to poor care.
I don't think so. May's parole office was pretty clear that she was stuck with that chassis, and that he could do nothing about it. He also seemed to have seen this kind of problem before.
It sounds like chassis for AIs coming out of robot jail are less that acceptable rejects or leftovers.
New Comic Up!
Poor Roko really isn't good with exposed anatomy, robotic or biological, is she? I think that this is the second time we've seen her crash due to psychological stress, poor girl! :laugh:
I know this is over-analysing but The Bovine Collider's misadventure makes me furrow my brow in thought. I mean, any cow is a large, solid object and one with a lot of tensile strength. In order to literally explode a cow in the way she evidently did, she must have hit it with the force of a tractor-trailer going at a considerable rate of speed. Given her size and assuming she isn't built from depleted uranium, she must have been running at well over a hundred miles an hour to deliver that sort of energy. What was she doing?!?
So, what does everyone think? Is Roko just hanging out with Faye and Bubbles because she doesn't have anything better to do or is Jeph working us towards her getting a job at Union Robotics, maybe running the 'phones and appointment book or something?
I know this is over-analysing but The Bovine Collider's misadventure makes me furrow my brow in thought. I mean, any cow is a large, solid object and one with a lot of tensile strength. In order to literally explode a cow in the way she evidently did, she must have hit it with the force of a tractor-trailer going at a considerable rate of speed. Given her size and assuming she isn't built from depleted uranium, she must have been running at well over a hundred miles an hour to deliver that sort of energy. What was she doing?!?
SPOILER: She is actually a fighter jet.Is she the pan-dimensional love child of starscream and pinkypie? :psyduck:
We know that AIs have libidos. ( an emergent phenomenon - not designed in ) So how are they able to satisfy their um, urges?
It appears that this depends on the sophistication of their chassis. Ranging from Bubbles to Roko to May. then there is pint-size i'll stop now
It was kinda implied by JJ in #1658 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658) that the libido was deliberately implemented. At least, that's how I interpret "No one is quite sure who decided it would be useful for artificial intelligences to possess libidos". Does not sound like it was an emergent phenom, but maybe a later comic backtracked on that statement a bit?
For comic #3897... (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3897)
1. Did PunchBot (CPA) ever get his arm (& side) replaced? Otherwise I would say that arm is probably his, and hopefully this will not come back to bite the entrepreneur couple.
2. Robots in-recent...
- a. Stabitha (Swordsmary)
- b. Beepatrice
- c. Cattle Destroyer
Good lord, how fast was she going when she "bumped into" that poor cow.Speed may not have been the issue if she was driving one of these brush cutters but with an open cab
New Comic Up!Running late for work? :claireface:
Poor Roko really isn't good with exposed anatomy, robotic or biological, is she? I think that this is the second time we've seen her crash due to psychological stress, poor girl! :laugh:
I know this is over-analysing but The Bovine Collider's misadventure makes me furrow my brow in thought. I mean, any cow is a large, solid object and one with a lot of tensile strength. In order to literally explode a cow in the way she evidently did, she must have hit it with the force of a tractor-trailer going at a considerable rate of speed. Given her size and assuming she isn't built from depleted uranium, she must have been running at well over a hundred miles an hour to deliver that sort of energy. What was she doing?!?
So, what does everyone think? Is Roko just hanging out with Faye and Bubbles because she doesn't have anything better to do or is Jeph working us towards her getting a job at Union Robotics, maybe running the 'phones and appointment book or something?
MOOderer!!!!!
Ehh...someone had to do it.
*folds arms* I regret nothing.
Somehow I find the idea that Roko fainted because of the dislocated finger rather than the gore to be an absolutely hilarious alternative punchline.
Somehow I find the idea that Roko fainted because of the dislocated finger rather than the gore to be an absolutely hilarious alternative punchline.
So, I thought somewhat randomly that including Paul Simon lyrics in every post this week would be a great idea. Hey, think I, it's a slice of life comic. How hard could this be?
And then an AI mistakenly bumps into a cow, resulting in the apparent evisceration of the cow and a dislocated little finger.
Me: *the sound of silence*
That's an interesting proposal, rtmq0227. Is the reason behind this friendship to actually balance out the competing aspects of Faye and Bubbles' personalities?
New Comic Up
Also something for those who know more about these things than me could answer: I know that you can't just sell random bits of roadkill to restaurants; there is something called 'food hygiene standards', after all. However, not all businesses are so discerning. Would an offal works pay for the remains of an exploded cow or would they charge you for removal?
I think that it is sweetly typical Bubbles that she considered the poor cow's fate as a waste. I think it is typically Faye that she's looking for a financial angle and doesn't entirely 'get' ethics!
Meanwhile, I'm guessing that The Bovine Collider is either non-binary or simply doesn't identify as a human gender at all (which is entirely to be expected).
For comic #3897... (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3897)
1. Did PunchBot (CPA) ever get his arm (& side) replaced (#3596 (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3596))? Otherwise I would say that arm is probably his, and hopefully this will not come back to bite the entrepreneur couple.
2. Robots in-recent...
- a. Stabitha (Swordsmary)
- b. Beepatrice
- c. Cattle Destroyer
As much as I love the paperclip joke, it does make me wonder about the context it would hold for AI
From an IT perspective, it would be something akin to smelling salts or a blow upside the head, you snap out of whatever infinite loop you're in but it's jarring, and you maybe don't remember a lot about what you were stuck on in the first place.
Would that kind of joke be offensive to the sort of highly-integrated AI that Roko represents? Would it be seen as more therapeutic/refreshing than I'm thinking? Is it highly taboo or viewed with a utilitarian lens?
This, of course, assumes that there is an actual "reset button" or equivalent for AI. It is about as likely that this is Faye being flippant and making a "Robots are still computers, just bigger and prone to emotions" joke.
I suspect, as with most things, it depends on your audience. Bubbles certainly didn't seem too fazed.
I dont think I'd ever want to eat anything that could be described as "incidental."
Things like that have gone from "economic necessity" to "regional cuisine." Tripe, haggis, goetta, scrapple, casing hotdogs, SPAM, a bunch of other examples someone will undoubtedly supply.I dont think I'd ever want to eat anything that could be described as "incidental."
I think that's what some people call "road-kill stew".
For comic #3897... (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3897)
1. Did PunchBot (CPA) ever get his arm (& side) replaced (#3596 (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3596))? Otherwise I would say that arm is probably his, and hopefully this will not come back to bite the entrepreneur couple.
Well, we see them working on what I presume is Punchbot's arm in 3725 (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3725) but I don't know if we've seen Punchbot since 3596. Still going through the archives though.
Yeah, that would be Punchbot's arm; in 3721 (https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3721) they're having trouble with it crawling off when they're not looking.
I misread that as pterodactyl hand and now I'm sad. I want a pterodactyl hand.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/80/bc/be80bc05017c143f2363edbe3539958e.jpg) ?
P.S. When I see him standing there, I said, “Hey, there’s a guy who needs a laugh." That’s what I said to myself.
One wonders if Roko has tear ducts. It appears no...
Um....did Roku just get freaking killed????
Either this is tragedy or a fancy new chassis for Roko, who knows. Well, probably the latter.
I hope.
ROKO! NOOOOOOOOOO!
I don’t think their cash flow is up to hiring a new employee just yet. I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship. :-)
Um....did Roku just get freaking killed????Probably not killed. But she may wake up with her chassis replaced by a breadbox.
Um....did Roku just get freaking killed????Probably not killed. But she may wake up with her chassis replaced by a breadbox.
[Stan] Oh my god, they killed Roko!
[Kyle] You bastards!
HA! For once, I got here first![Stan] Oh my god, they killed Roko!
[Kyle] You bastards!
And there goes my post.
[Stan] Oh my god, they killed Roko!
[Kyle] You bastards!
I dunno, anybody else feel like that cliffhanger is a little flat? :claireface:
"Gentlemen... we could rebuild her... we just don't have the technology...or the materials...or the funds...or the time...or manpower..."
Roko is not flat. But I'm sure there is now a Roko-shaped dent in the sidewalk. ( there has to be a tv tropes ref)Yup.
It is significant that Jeph had this happen right outside Union Robotics...
[Stan] Oh my god, they killed Roko!
[Kyle] You bastards!
Quote: everyone saying Roku isn't dead
I dunno, guys... certainly she COULD survive that...even probably.
But that last panel of her (unsquished)...bathed in light from the entry way...looking back one last time...
Just please let's don't have a "It's a Wonderful Life" episode with Spookybot as Roku's Clarence. I will be physically ill.
Given the general tone of Questionable Content, that turn in the story is a little too dark.
I doubt Roko is dead and if she had to sustain major damage this is the right place for emergency repairs, but I'm not sure what her insurance policy is like since she left the police force. She might get stuck with a substandard chassis like May. Maybe she had the AI equivalent of COBRA, but if she has something less like the Decepticons she'll probably get dumped out a space shuttle. If she's lucky Unicron will reformat her. Either that or Spookybot, but you know they'd lord that over her everyday.
But it could get a lot worse.Very good point, Zoe. I'm more than a little embarrassed that I didn't spot it.
Former cop who ended an illegal robot fighting ring gets "accidentally" slain by one of the former fighters involved in it. The only witnesses are two individuals also up to their necks in involvement, and whose greymarket Chop Shop the victim walked out of moments before.
DAs are professionally suspicious, and there was definitely something unusual about the resolution of the original case.
Just please let's don't have a "It's a Wonderful Life" episode [...]
Whoever negligently left the bananaskins on the footpath better have good insurance, or this will not end well.
But it could get a lot worse.
Former cop who ended an illegal robot fighting ring gets "accidentally" slain by one of the former fighters involved in it. The only witnesses are two individuals also up to their necks in involvement, and whose greymarket Chop Shop the victim walked out of moments before.
DAs are professionally suspicious, and there was definitely something unusual about the resolution of the original case.
But it could get a lot worse.
Former cop who ended an illegal robot fighting ring gets "accidentally" slain by one of the former fighters involved in it. The only witnesses are two individuals also up to their necks in involvement, and whose greymarket Chop Shop the victim walked out of moments before.
DAs are professionally suspicious, and there was definitely something unusual about the resolution of the original case.
Whoever negligently left the bananaskins on the footpath better have good insurance, or this will not end well.
I actually had a minor panic attack there when I thought for a moment that I was in the Let's complain some more! (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,30334.0.html) thread.But it could get a lot worse.
Former cop who ended an illegal robot fighting ring gets "accidentally" slain by one of the former fighters involved in it. The only witnesses are two individuals also up to their necks in involvement, and whose greymarket Chop Shop the victim walked out of moments before.
DAs are professionally suspicious, and there was definitely something unusual about the resolution of the original case.
Whoa.
Now that's speculation.
They're canon-esque, perhaps? They are not part of the storyline, having been originally created a while back, but there's no reason this couldn't have happened at some point. (It does not mean that Roko is suddenly fine.)
At least a dozen! Admittedly they don't phone me as much since that day I tried to drag QC spoilers out of them. More of a friend of a friend thing anyway.There's nothing speculative about ZoeB's statement. That's how prosecutors' & cops' minds work. And we pay them to think that way.
P.S. Seriously though, I'm curious to know how you got from my brief post to your conclusion, because I have a sneaking suspicion that you read something into my words that I didn't intend.