NSF Award in Computer & Information Science & Engineering (Onion test)

Northwestern University ^ | 8.2.10

[Thebaddog]

Project: Computational Creativity: Building Model of Machine—Generated Humor

• Start Date: June 1, 2009

• Total Award Amount: $712,883

NSF Award in Computer & Information Science & Engineering How the results of this project will benefit society: Computational creativity has been a goal of artificial intelligence since nearly its inception. But while many interesting models have been developed, and some of these have produced interesting creative works, most have been built on foundations that either don’t scale, or don’t easily scope across different domains, or both. This project will create intelligent comedic performance agents and deploy them both on- and off-line for the enjoyment and illumination of everyday citizens.

Secondly, this research will attract, develop, and produce an equally new type of artificial intelligence (AI) researcher whose vision of the mind scopes beyond the confines of a single machine. In particular, the goal is to attract a broader set of students (including the underrepresented group of women in engineering) from communications studies and theater, who want to do research on the machine as a device for communication and creative expression made possible and supported by the mediation of intelligent systems. This is a crucial step in the development of AI as a field, drawing in a next generation of creative and innovative thinkers who will be able to bring new light into the world of semantics and inference while building artifacts with artistic power. The problem the project is trying to solve: The goal is to provide a model of creativity and humor that works in much the same way that a professional comedy writer or improvisational performer does. These professionals “mine” their memories for experiences, but they do not merely “free associate.”

[Thebaddog]

I found this on the Chicagoist site. I'm not sure its real or not, but I wanted to put it to the FR jury for reality testing.

[catnipman]

As difficult as it is to imagine, this grant is no joke:

http://www.recovery.gov/Transparency/RecipientReportedData/Pages/RecipientProjectSummary508.aspx?AwardIDSUR=2903&AwardType=Grants

BTW, I'm sure that most of you here remember that in "1984", machines were used to churn out "novels", "art", and other "creative" products for the masses. Almost 30 years late, but the Obammunists are going to give it a shot (using your credit card of course).

[haroldeveryman]

“Almost 30 years late, but the Obammunists are going to give it a shot”

Using computers to simulate a stand-up comedian should be doable if you provide a teleprompter. Say, to come to think of it, that might explain what we’ve been watching for two years.