Computer 'Beings' Evolve as Society

Researchers are working on an artificial intelligence simulation on a massive scale. They're running their program over a network, similar to the way SETI and the Human Genome Project were done. The simulation will create millions of "agents" that will interact with each other, breed, feed, and die.

The software agents are part of a project called NEW TIES (New and Emergent World Models Through Individual, Evolutionary, and Social Learning), which draws on the expertise of five European research institutions to push computer simulation of artificial worlds further than ever before. [from Discovery News]

The caption on the article says the simulation might "offer a testing ground for new laws." That's a horrifying thought. I don't care if the simulation has human operators, there's no way a computer simulation can test a people's reaction to a law. And why would they want to test something like that on a simulation? To see what they can get away with? Regardless of that, this simulation will be interesting to keep an eye on. It seems to me like a simple but massive game of SimLife. I'm sure it will be more than just a game, right?

Tech Tags: AI artificial+intelligence simulation NEW+TIES