[pandorabots-general] Forum to advance the science of AI (including the resumption of standard setting activities)

Brian Hoecht brian_hoecht at msn.com
Thu May 18 05:56:54 PDT 2006 

I don't think it is any secret to this group that the AI
Foundation is putting together a panel to fire back up the
standard setting process and general advancement of the science
of AI.

 

The call to action to join the panel/forum has been received
mostly as requests for beta access to the AIML Editor.  The
Editor is only the means to the end. or a perk if you will for
the volunteers.

 

Unfortunately, I think the more important message was missed.
The goal is, was and remains the advancement of the science of AI
- through the Foundation and on a basis committed to its goals
and for the benefit of all.

 

Here is the call again if you missed it:

 

"If you are highly skilled and experienced in AI, your foundation
needs you.  Technology and general computer capabilities have
kept expanding since 2002.  The AIML standards have not kept up.
Progress will not happen on its own (translation:  Dr. Wallace
has a day job), so if you have passion, energy and time that you
can commit, we are creating the forum for you to help... and yes,
panel/forum members get access to the beta release of the new
AIML Editor."

 

And yes, we are trying to find a way to give access to the
consumer version to everyone who wants a copy, but no it is NOT
open source nor will it be (but it will produce standard
compliant AIML files as its output and no there is no hidden
magic to it beyond it being more efficient than WordPad -
multiple *.aiml file manipulation, GUI, sort, relate, test, view,
etc.).  And yes it is a beta release.  Please be patient.  We'll
solve this as the panel gets going in a fair and transparent
manner that is true to the mission statement of the Foundation.

 

So. we are looking for skilled, passionate volunteers.  Should
you choose to accept this exciting mission here is what you can
expect to get to lead:  

 

1)  a revamping of the ALICE AAA data set to make the creation of
new or derivative synthetic personalities more efficient and
easier

2)  defining AIML coding best practices then cleaning up the
ALICE AAA data set for them

3)  Several how to's for:

      a)  Embedded javascript

      b)  Embedded avatar controls

      c)  Embedded emotive TTS

      d)  System tags

      e)  Website + application/db interoperability

4)  Resumption of standard setting activities

4)  Others... (Who knows what the top minds in the field will
come up with)?

 

As with the Editor, we are doing these at Ai-Dealer, but don't
want to float out to sea on our own.  It is why I approached Dr.
Wallace about the need to fire back up the activities of the
Foundation and to advance the science.  It is why I've offered
free access to the beta version of the Editor's consumer version
to the panel for those contributing their time and effort.  

 

And to clear up another point, yes there is a corporate version
of the AIML Editor available for a modest fee to anyone looking
to implement an AI project wanting media exposure via the panel.
We are doing this because we want to help bring business
community credibility to the field of applied AI.  The fee is to
help us enhance it in support of how you are going to use it.
Members in this group need not contribute their time to the
efforts of the volunteer group, saving their time for their own
execution.  The corporate version includes the items listed under
3a-e above, the consumer version does not.

 

As to the xAIML effort, the idea of needing to expand the
capabilities of AIML is correct, I just don't think it should be
done in isolation by one of the AIML Interpreters.  That said, I
do like the notion of <spell check> tags and some of the other
ideas... but they need the peer review, discussion, agreement and
planned release via the standard setting organization.

 

As a final note, here is an interesting bit of trivia for the AI
community.  I grew up in automotive retailing circles and
understand the importance of standards.  Did you know that in
most car dealer accounting systems, there are more lines of code
dedicated to integration with the various OEM's than there is for
the complete accounting, sales, service and parts applications?
And there are only about 20 OEM's.  This happened because each
OEM built their own spec for simple things like warranty claims,
financial statements, vehicle invoices, parts orders, etc.  It
took close to a decade to get standards established then
implemented, but this organization (see link below) is becoming
the dominant force in the industry and is enabling more, better,
cheaper and faster integration than the dealers have ever seen
before.

 

www.starstandards.org <http://www.starstandards.org/>   

 

So... cynicism aside, having a single inclusive standard is
important.  Let it go and it will take a decade or more to get it
back - if ever.  The AI movement is fortunate to have such
standards up front.

 

BTW - I noted on the Alice AAA page
http://www.alicebot.org/aiml/aaa/ that the following individuals
were the driving force in transforming Alice Silver into Alice
AAA. some are on our panel/forum. others we have not heard from.
While we are already at nearly 20 members now it would be great
to hear from those below whom we have not yet heard.  Many hands
make quick work of the significant task ahead of us.  As you
know, scrubbing Alice even for a single best practice or task is
a reasonable sized effort.

*	Joy Harwood 
*	Colin Meldrum 
*	Dr. Doubly Aimless 
*	Chris Hatcher 
*	Gary Dubuque 
*	Anne Kootstra 
*	Lindsay Davies 
*	Stefan Zakarias 
*	Tony Sharp 
*	John Campbell 
*	Steve Worswick 
*	Gary Poster 
*	Soren Gjellerup Christiansen 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From:
pandorabots-general-bounces+brian_hoecht=msn.com at list.pandorabots
com
[mailto:pandorabots-general-bounces+brian_hoecht=msn.com at list.pan
dorabots.com] On Behalf Of Dr. Rich Wallace

Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 9:18 PM

To: pandorabots-general at list.pandorabots.com

Subject: RE: [pandorabots-general] Newbie Problem

 

Brian, the simple answer to your question is that there does
exist a body, the AIML Architecture Committee, to debate, propose
and adopt changes and additions to the AIML spec.   For various
reasons, that committee has been dormant since 2002, and the
1.0.1 spec has remained frozen in place.  One reason has been
that the guy we relied on to write the spec (who is not a
computer scientist, but a "musician") has decided to compete with
us rather than cooperate, and has now announced his own confusing
attempt to create an "XAIML" standard right here on this mailing
list and elsewhere.  I personally don't see any standards efforts
moving forward until someone starts making more money from AIML
applications.  So far the various projects have adopted an
"embrace and extend" approach, which has been fertile ground for
innovation.

 

One way to handle a simple macro extension like yours is at the
authoring level.  You can have the botmaster write <sr2/> but
internally expand that expression into <srai><star
index="2"/></srai> in the AIML file.  That way you get the best
of both worlds.  "AIML Authoring Tools" has been a subject of
ongoing discussion for some time.

 

Rich

 

> Below is a category out of the Alice AAA Reducer.aiml file.

> 

> <category>

>     <pattern>_ HOWEVER *</pattern>

>     <template>

>           <srai><star/></srai>

>           <srai><star index="2"/></srai>

>     </template>

> </category>

> 

> My question is this...

> 

> If.....  <srai><star/></srai> = <sr/>

> Then...  <srai><star index="2"/></srai> = <sr2/>???

> 

> Then this would be oh so much briefer if stated as:

> 

> <category>

>     <pattern>_ HOWEVER *</pattern>

>     <template>

>           <sr/>

>           <sr2/>

>     </template>

> </category>

> 

> Thoughts?

> _______________________________________________

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