Meow, y’all.

Last night in my watercooler, MyFDL’s cmaukonen shared fascinating news from the New York Times — Google created a powerful neural network with the ability to recognize important or significant objects, and then set it loose on YouTube. The results? One of the most powerful computers ever created taught itself to recognize cats:

The neural network taught itself to recognize cats, which is actually no frivolous activity. This week the researchers will present the results of their work at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Google scientists and programmers will note that while it is hardly news that the Internet is full of cat videos, the simulation nevertheless surprised them. It performed far better than any previous effort by roughly doubling its accuracy in recognizing objects in a challenging list of 20,000 distinct items.

…

“We never told it during the training, ‘This is a cat,’ ” said Dr. Dean, who originally helped Google design the software that lets it easily break programs into many tasks that can be computed simultaneously. “It basically invented the concept of a cat.”

This story appeals to me on multiple levels. It’s obviously quite funny — as a friend of mine commented last night, was there ever any doubt that a sentient Internet would think mostly of cats? And of course, the next steps seem just as clear. First Google’s expensive computing array teaches itself to recognize cats, then it’ll teach itself to make LOLcats, or to create autotuned music videos about them.

Hidden in the mirth is the reminder that we’re on the brink of developing dramatic new technologies. New technologies bring new dangers — improved computer vision benefits many including repressive governments. Yet tools are tools — those who resist oppression can make use of them too. For example, new computer vision techniques might be used by Anonymous to analyze protest videos to identify repeat offenders among violent police.

And there’s never been a technology we’ve successfully put away — the genie does not go back into the bottle. Human curiosity and inquiry have few, if any brakes. We can’t stop the future, only do our best to shape it in ways that are ethical and equal for all.

In other words, as another Internet meme goes, “I, for one, welcome our new cat-loving computer overlords.”

This is tonight’s open thread. What’s on your mind?

Hi, y’all.

I think it’s important for Firedoglake to briefly observe last Saturday’s milestone: the 100th birthday of Alan Turing, one of the great pioneers of computing. Turing was born on June 23, 1912 and died on June 7, 1954. He developed key concepts in computer science like the algorithm, around which our high-tech lives are built today.

The timing is appropriate, with Pride events in many cities this past weekend, to reflect not just on Turing’s contributions to computer science but his treatment as a gay man. When he reported a robbery by a man with whom he’d had a sexual relationship, the British Government convicted him of gross indecency and forced him to take a series of injections as a form of chemical castration. FDL’s Teddy Partridge wroting movingly in 2009 of the successful campaign to obtain a governmental apology for Turing’s treatment.

Until recently, most accepted the coroner’s ruling that Turing, who died of cyanide poisoning, committed suicide. A BBC News article published Saturday creates some doubt. Professor Jack Copeland, a Turing expert, believes that his death may have been accidental rather then deliberate, the result of careless experimentation with electroplating using potassium cyanide.

The problem, he complains, is that the investigation was conducted so poorly that even murder cannot be ruled out. An “open verdict,” recognising this degree of ignorance, would be his preferred position.

None of this excuses the treatment of Turing during his final years, says Prof Copeland.

“Turing was hounded,” he told the BBC, adding: “Yet he remained cheerful and humorous.”

One final note: I’ve recently revived the @MyFDL Twitter account.I tweet a selection of diaries from MyFDL, mostly those I promote to the front page along with a few other highlights subject to my discretion. Since I edit on weekdays, that’s when you’ll find it active. This is an experiment, but if you are on Twitter & want to get updates from MyFDL then please follow.

This is tonight’s open thread. What’s on your mind?