“Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt

“After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”

“Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”

Somebody has read Heinlein.

Lynn

On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>
> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>
> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>
> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>
> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>
And he's likely spinning in his grave.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>“Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>
>https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>
>“After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>
>“Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>
>Somebody has read Heinlein.

Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?

On 11/6/2023 6:19 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>
>> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>
>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>
>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>
>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>
> Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?

YES ! Or MYCROFT.

Lynn

On Monday, November 6, 2023 at 5:56:27 PM UTC-7, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/6/2023 6:19 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:

> > Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?

> YES ! Or MYCROFT.

But IBM pre-empted that with its Watson.

John Savard

On Monday, November 6, 2023 at 7:56:27 PM UTC-5, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/6/2023 6:19 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> > Lynn McGuire <lynnmc...@gmail.com> writes:
> >> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
> >>
> >> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
> >>
> >> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
> >> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
> >>
> >> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
> >> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
> >> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
> >>
> >> Somebody has read Heinlein.
> >
> > Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?
> YES ! Or MYCROFT.

Perhaps "Mike"/ "Mycroft" were not used because they would have
created unrealistically high expectations?

In article <uic1vl$mijg$1@dont-email.me>,
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 11/6/2023 6:19 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>
>>>
>https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>>
>>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>>
>>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>>
>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>
>> Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?
>
>YES ! Or MYCROFT.
>
>Lynn
>
>

OTOH, Musk is Delos D. Harriman, so he gets some slack..
--
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..

Ahasuerus <ahasuerus@email.com> wrote:
>
>Perhaps "Mike"/ "Mycroft" were not used because they would have
>created unrealistically high expectations?

Unrealistically high expectations are what IBM Marketing is all about!
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

>On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>
>> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>
>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>
>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>
>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>
>And he's likely spinning in his grave.

And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
out.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:35:21 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

>“Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>
>https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>
>“After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>
>“Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>
>Somebody has read Heinlein.

Or heard the term used at some time in the past and thought it sounded
"cool" without bothering to find out what it meant.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

Paul S Person wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:35:21 -0600, Lynn McGuire
> <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >“Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
> >
> >https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
> >
> >“After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
> >night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
> >
> >“Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
> >intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
> >ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
> >
> >Somebody has read Heinlein.
> Or heard the term used at some time in the past and thought it sounded
> "cool" without bothering to find out what it meant.

Well, has some idea what it might mean from context, even if not fully grokking it.

(waiting for Hal Heydt to correct me that "grok" does not need the modifier "fully". ("Unique" not being especially unique in that way.))

--
-Jack

On 11/7/2023 9:52 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>
>> On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>
>>> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>>
>>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>>
>>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>>
>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>
>> And he's likely spinning in his grave.
>
> And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
> out.

Good point, probably with a few extra revolutions per second because
they only bought the rights so they could use the title.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 3:53:05 PM UTC-7, Dimensional Traveler wrote:

> Good point, probably with a few extra revolutions per second because
> they only bought the rights so they could use the title.

It's true that movie bore little resemblance to the book, but it did use *some*
other elements of the book - the names of some of the characters, the
fact that the enemies were insect-like.

John Savard

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:29:25 PM UTC-7, Jack Bohn wrote:

> (waiting for Hal Heydt to correct me that "grok" does not need the modifier "fully". ("Unique" not being especially unique in that way.))

I'm glad you remembered this. However, it's not _really_ an error, since what with
the term "grok" entering the language, it has lost some of its meaning, and it's
often used simply to mean "understand" rather than "understand so fully that one
can even make it disappear".

John Savard

On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 11:31:27 PM UTC-5, Quadibloc wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 3:53:05 PM UTC-7, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>
> > Good point, probably with a few extra revolutions per second because
> > they only bought the rights so they could use the title.
> It's true that movie bore little resemblance to the book, but it did use *some*
> other elements of the book - the names of some of the characters, the
> fact that the enemies were insect-like.

As I recall, it also had the societal background of a culture run by 'veterans',
and the only way to attain full citizenship was to serve. This is all in the first
few minutes, then the protags are off to training camp. Also, the male protag
is in the process of quitting when the Bugs attack, and decides to stay.

pt

On Tue, 7 Nov 2023 20:31:23 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca>
wrote:

>On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 3:53:05?PM UTC-7, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>
>> Good point, probably with a few extra revolutions per second because
>> they only bought the rights so they could use the title.
>
>It's true that movie bore little resemblance to the book, but it did use *some*
>other elements of the book - the names of some of the characters, the
>fact that the enemies were insect-like.

I would say, in the category "films that really don't adapt the book
they claim to be based on", the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ makes
the Peter Jackson /Lord of the Rings/ films look like exact
transcriptions and /The Hobbit/ films look very complete, if a trifle
long.

In reality, /none/ of those managed to tell the same story as the
book.

Of course, the same could be said of /I, Robot/. The difference, for
me, is that /I, Robot/ is fun to watch. Sometimes a non-adaptation
works so well it just doesn't matter what it did to the book.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

On 11/8/2023 5:33 AM, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 11:31:27 PM UTC-5, Quadibloc wrote:
>> On Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 3:53:05 PM UTC-7, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
>>
>>> Good point, probably with a few extra revolutions per second because
>>> they only bought the rights so they could use the title.
>> It's true that movie bore little resemblance to the book, but it did use *some*
>> other elements of the book - the names of some of the characters, the
>> fact that the enemies were insect-like.
>
> As I recall, it also had the societal background of a culture run by 'veterans',
> and the only way to attain full citizenship was to serve. This is all in the first
> few minutes, then the protags are off to training camp. Also, the male protag
> is in the process of quitting when the Bugs attack, and decides to stay.
>
After purchasing the rights to the book the producers and writer did
make some changes to the script to align the movie a bit more with the
book but they have said in interviews that the original purchase of the
rights was after they had a finished script and only came about because
they heard the rights were available and thought it was a good title.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On 07/11/2023 17:52, Paul S Person wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>
>> On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>
>> And he's likely spinning in his grave.
>
> And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
> out.

I recall that, back in the day somebody (A G Silver, possibly?) opined
in this froup that the sotry that Mr Verhoeven actually wanted to tell
was The Forever War.

Phil
--
"This is what we know, when you tell us of your fondest hopes and dreams
for us: that your greatest wish is that one day we will cease to be, and
strangers you can love will move in behind our faces."
Jim Sinclair, "Don't Mourn for Us"
https://web.archive.org/web/20080606065108/http://www.edmonds-institute.org/dontmour.html

On 11/9/2023 8:12 AM, Phil Culmer wrote:
> On 07/11/2023 17:52, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
>> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>>
>>> And he's likely spinning in his grave.
>>
>> And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
>> out.
>
> I recall that, back in the day somebody (A G Silver, possibly?) opined
> in this froup that the sotry that Mr Verhoeven actually wanted to tell
> was The Forever War.
>
Forever War would be far too subtle and cerebral for them.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Thu, 9 Nov 2023 16:12:00 +0000, Phil Culmer <usenet@culmer.org.uk>
wrote:

>On 07/11/2023 17:52, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
>> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>>
>>> And he's likely spinning in his grave.
>>
>> And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
>> out.
>
>I recall that, back in the day somebody (A G Silver, possibly?) opined
>in this froup that the sotry that Mr Verhoeven actually wanted to tell
>was The Forever War.

That would have been very interesting.

But no Bugs.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

On 11/9/2023 11:01 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
> On Thu, 9 Nov 2023 16:12:00 +0000, Phil Culmer <usenet@culmer.org.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> On 07/11/2023 17:52, Paul S Person wrote:
>>> On Mon, 6 Nov 2023 15:26:10 -0800, Dimensional Traveler
>>> <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 11/6/2023 1:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>>>
>>>> And he's likely spinning in his grave.
>>>
>>> And I suspect has been since the Verhoeven /Starship Troopers/ came
>>> out.
>>
>> I recall that, back in the day somebody (A G Silver, possibly?) opined
>> in this froup that the sotry that Mr Verhoeven actually wanted to tell
>> was The Forever War.
>
> That would have been very interesting.
>
> But no Bugs.

Several scientists have theorized that some of the possible alien
societies out there will be hive minds. Many of the authors have
written such books: Alan Dean Foster, Orson Scott Card, Joe Haldeman, etc.

Lynn

In article <dof2N.57553$KCJd.56251@fx45.iad>,
Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
>Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>>“Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>
>>https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>
>>“After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>>night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>
>>“Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>>intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>>ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>
>>Somebody has read Heinlein.
>
>Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?

[Hal Heydt]
Or--if being formal--Mycroft.

On 11/10/2023 11:09 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
> In article <dof2N.57553$KCJd.56251@fx45.iad>,
> Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
>> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>
>>> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>>
>>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>>
>>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on what to
>>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>>
>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>
>> Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?
>
> [Hal Heydt]
> Or--if being formal--Mycroft.

Wasn't MYCROFT an acronym for several words ?

NO ! The acronym was "Lunar infrastructure and machinery are largely
managed and controlled by HOLMES IV ("High-Optional, Logical,
Multi-Evaluating Supervisor, Mark IV"), the Lunar Authority's master
computer, on the premise that having a single, large-capacity computer
to run everything is cheaper (though not safer) than multiple
independent systems.[5]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon_Is_a_Harsh_Mistress

"The narrator is Manuel Garcia ("Mannie") O'Kelly-Davis, a computer
technician who discovers that HOLMES IV has achieved self-awareness -
and developed a sense of humor. Mannie names it "Mike" after Mycroft
Holmes, brother of fictional Sherlock Holmes, and the two become
friends.[6]"

I really need to read TMIAHM again, it is sitting in my SBR. Along with
the sequel, "The Rolling Stones", the final years of Hazel Stone.

Lynn

On Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 4:35:57 PM UTC+11, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>
> I really need to read TMIAHM again, it is sitting in my SBR. Along with
> the sequel, "The Rolling Stones", the final years of Hazel Stone.
>
The Rolling Stones was published first, and The Cat That Walks Through Walls reveals that The Rolling Stones is a long way off being the final years of Hazel Stone

On 11/10/2023 11:35 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> On 11/10/2023 11:09 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:
>> In article <dof2N.57553$KCJd.56251@fx45.iad>,
>> Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
>>> Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
>>>> “Elon Musk's xAI Officially Announces Grok, Its Answer to ChatGPT"
>>>>
>>>> https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-xai-officially-announces-grok-its-answer-to-chatgpt
>>>>
>>>> “After showing off a few screenshots of the chatbot on X late Saturday
>>>> night, Elon Musk’s xAI has now officially announced Grok.”
>>>>
>>>> “Grok is “AI modeled after Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and is
>>>> intended to both answer questions as well as make suggestions on
>>>> what to
>>>> ask, according to a blog post from xAI.”
>>>>
>>>> Somebody has read Heinlein.
>>>
>>> Wouldn't Mike have been a more appropriate Heinlein reference for an AI?
>>
>> [Hal Heydt]
>> Or--if being formal--Mycroft.
>
> Wasn't MYCROFT an acronym for several words ?
>
> NO !  The acronym was "Lunar infrastructure and machinery are largely
> managed and controlled by HOLMES IV ("High-Optional, Logical,
> Multi-Evaluating Supervisor, Mark IV"), the Lunar Authority's master
> computer, on the premise that having a single, large-capacity computer
> to run everything is cheaper (though not safer) than multiple
> independent systems.[5]"
>    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon_Is_a_Harsh_Mistress
>
> "The narrator is Manuel Garcia ("Mannie") O'Kelly-Davis, a computer
> technician who discovers that HOLMES IV has achieved self-awareness -
> and developed a sense of humor. Mannie names it "Mike" after Mycroft
> Holmes, brother of fictional Sherlock Holmes, and the two become
> friends.[6]"
>
> I really need to read TMIAHM again, it is sitting in my SBR.  Along with
> the sequel, "The Rolling Stones", the final years of Hazel Stone.
>
> Lynn
>

On occasion though, Michelle.