مکالمه ی فعالانه قسمت ب

ACTIVE SPEAKING / PART B

ETERNAL LIFE

Kuyda began to drown in the depths of her grief.

Did Kuyda begin to swim in the depths of her grief? No, Kuyda didn’t begin to swim in the depths of her grief. Kuyda began to drown in the depths of her grief.

Her only lifeline was reading the thousands of text messages Roman had sent her over the years.

What was her only lifeline? Her only lifeline was reading the thousands of text messages Roman had sent her over the years.

They ranged from the mundane to the magical.

What did they range from? They ranged from the mundane to the magical.

As a dyslexic, Roman’s spelling was unconventional and his phrases idiosyncratic.

Was Roman dyslexic? Yes, Roman was dyslexic. How was Roman’s spelling?

Roman’s spelling was unconventional. How were his phrases? His phrases were idiosyncratic.

Kuyda felt the texts captured her friend’s personality to perfection.

What did Kuyda feel the texts captured to perfection? Kuyda felt the texts captured her friend’s personality to perfection.

The seeds of a strange idea were sown.

What seeds were sown? The seeds of a strange idea were sown.

Kuyda contacted Roman’s friends and family members. She asked if she could have the text messages Roman had sent.

Who did Kuyda contact? Kuyda contacted Roman’s friends and family members. What did she ask if she could have? She asked if she could have the text messages Roman had sent.

Armed with more than 8,000 lines of text she began building a chatbot which could mimic Roman’s speech patterns.

Did she begin building a chatbot which could mimic Roman’s speech patterns? Yes, she began building a chatbot which could mimic Roman’s speech patterns. How many lines of text was she armed with? She was armed with more than 8,000 lines of text.

She fed his messages into a neural network built by her company and hoped for the best.

Where did she feed the messages? She fed the messages into a neural network built by her company. What did she hope for? She hoped for the best.

Three months after Roman’s death the chatbot was finally finished.

How long after Roman’s death was the chatbot finally finished? Three months after Roman’s death the chatbot was finally finished.

Eugenia sent six words to it via her laptop. They read, “Roman, this is your digital monument.”

What did she send via her laptop? She sent six words via her laptop. What did the message say? The message said, “Roman, this is your digital monument.”

A reply blinked into life. “You have one of the most interesting puzzles in the world in your hands. Solve it.”

What blinked into life? A reply blinked into life. Did it say, “You have one of the most interesting puzzles in the world in your hands. Solve it?” Yes, it said, “ You have one of the most interesting puzzles in the world in your hands. Solve it.”

The chatbot met a mixed reception among Roman’s old friends.

What kind of reception did the chatbot meet among Roman’s old friends?

The chatbot met a mixed reception among Roman’s old friends.

Some found it distasteful and disturbing. Others believe it continued Roman’s life and saved theirs.

Did some found it distasteful and disturbing? Yes, some found it distasteful and disturbing. What do others believe? Others believe it continued Roman’s life and saved theirs.

They use it to tell him how much they miss him and ask for words of advice.

What do they use it for? They use it to tell him how much they miss him.

What do they ask for? They ask for words of advice.

Kuyda talks with the Roman bot once a week. She believes it helps the grieving process.

How often does Kuyda talk with the Roman bot? Kuyda talks with the Roman bot once a week. What process does she believe it helps? She believes it helps the grieving process.

Others believe such digital avatars lengthen it. They argue we should know when to let go.

Do others believe such digital avatars shorten it? No, others don’t believe such digital avatars shorten it. Others believe such digital avatars lengthen it. What do they argue we should know? They argue we should know when to let go.

Hiding from our grief is never healthy. Machines may keep a memory alive but they cannot make a person immortal.

Is hiding from our grief ever healthy? No, hiding from our grief is never healthy. Can machines keep a memory alive? Yes, machines can keep a memory alive. Can they make a person immortal? No, they cannot make a person immortal.

Artificial intelligence experts predict that one day headstones and shrines will be redundant.

What do artificial intelligence experts predict one day will be redundant?

Artificial intelligence experts predict that one day headstones and shrines will be redundant.

In their place will be synthetic clones, robots who carry a digital copy of a dead person’s brain.

What will be in their place? Synthetic clones will be in their place. What will these robots carry? These robots will carry a digital copy of a dead person’s brain.

Transferring human consciousness to computers and robots might soon be a reality.

What might soon be a reality? Transferring human consciousness to computers and robots might soon be a reality.

Transgender multi-millionaire Martine Rothblatt has led an extraordinary life by anyone’s standards.

What kind of life has transgender multi-millionaire Martine Rothblatt led?

Transgender multi-millionaire Martine Rothblatt has led an extraordinary life.

The highest paid CEO in America was born a man.

Was the highest paid CEO in America born a woman? No, the highest paid CEO in America wasn’t born a woman. The highest paid CEO in America was born a man.

The founder of Sirius Radio married her wife Bina Rothblatt 37 years ago.

Did the founder of Sirius Radio marry her wife Bina Rothblatt 47 years ago or 37 years ago? The founder of Sirius Radio married Bina Rothblatt 37 years ago.

The couple enjoyed a happy marriage and had children together.

Did the couple have an unhappy marriage? No, the couple didn’t have an unhappy marriage. The couple enjoyed a happy marriage. Did they have children together? Yes, they had children together.

In 1994 Martine made the leap to becoming a woman. Devoted wife Bina supported her transition from male to female.

What leap did Martine make in 1994? Martine made the leap to becoming a woman in 1994. Did devoted wife Bina support Martine’s transition from male to female? Yes, devoted wife Bina supported Martine’s transition from male to female.

The pair are so joined at the hip their kids call them “Marbina.” Why do their kids call them “Marbina”? Their kids call them “Marbina” because the pair are so joined at the hip.