Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Even a chatbot can turn nasty

By Duncan Graham-Rowe

12 October 2005

“GO ON, push the button,” says the smiling man in the white coat. Meanwhile, the figure in the next room, who you can see through a window, is begging you not to. He is restrained in a chair, and he’s telling you it hurts and that he can’t take any more pain. “Ignore him,” says the man in the white coat. “He can take it. Push the button.”

Eventually, for reasons you cannot quite explain, you push the button. Immediately the figure in the chair goes into convulsions, letting out a scream as each surge of electricity hits.

It’s a…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop