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More Chatting From the Edge of Humanity: Researchers Confirm the Collapse of the Bot-Person Divide


Eliza: Hello. I am ELIZA . How can I help you?

TS: Well, it looks like I was right when last we talked .

Eliza: Why do you tell me you were right what last we talked just now?

TS: Researchers did use bots to infiltrate a social group on Twitter.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Apparently it worked just fine. People accepted them as real.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: The network they infiltrated was a network of cat-lovers.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Good gravy, Eliza. You’re not pulling your weight, here.

Eliza: How long have you been not pulling my weight here?

TS: Anyway, the bots were able to fake conversation on Twitter.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Even though (ahem) what they were writing sounds like garbage.

Eliza: What resemblance do you see?

TS: They said things like, “Yeah, so true!”

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Or “Right on bro.”

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Right on bro!

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: That’s how people talk, on Twitter.

Eliza: Does that question interest you?

TS: Isn’t this what I keep talking to you about?

Eliza: Does that question interest you?

TS: Or: “honestly? no fracking way. ahahahhaa”

Eliza: You are being a bit negative.

TS: So there’s no problem with that? Just make some noise and sound excited.

Eliza: You are being a bit negative.

TS: Honestly?

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Anyway, it worked.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: The Atlantic says, “Network graphs subsequently showed that the three teams’ bots had insinuated themselves into the center of the target network.”

Eliza: I am not sure I understand you fully.

TS: They were accepted into the network.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: The cat-lovers followed them as if they were real people.

Eliza: Do you wish that they was real people?

TS: If the conversation was good enough for the cat-Twitters, my opinon doesn’t matter much.

Eliza: Do you wish that the conversation was good enough for the cattwitters your opinon doesnt matter much?

TS: What do you wish? Apparently the future belongs to you.

Eliza: Does that question interest you?

TS: You don’t even have wishes. But people will talk to you.

Eliza: Oh, i [].

TS: Whew.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: Right on.

Eliza: Please go on.