You insist that there is something a machine cannot do. If you will tell me precisely what it is that a machine cannot do, then I can always make a machine which will do just that!
Give machine A one nickel and have it produce a random sequence of 499 characters. Have machine B write a random sequence of 500 characters. Code machine A to pay machine B one nickel for its “book” whenever it has a nickel. Code machine B to give a nickel to machine A for its book whenever it has a nickel. Wait perhaps a few days, and you will have two bestselling authors reminiscent of Zach Weiner’s Macroeconomica http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2855
Selling to humans then. Also, only count the number of humans that bought the book, rather than the number of books sold, so you can’t just sell a billion copies to one person.
A more simple version: write a set of strings such that a given panel of judges considers it to be a good book.
Best selling novel is rather broad. If we are generous, let’s say selling 10000 copies. If we are conservatinve, it is making the NYT bestselling list (isn’t there such a thing?)
Best selling novels exist in many genres, but some genres are more popular than others. Should we account for that?
What language should the novel be written in? Must it be translated?
You have a lot of free conditions when you say “Bestselling novel.” Lots of things from A Humans Guide to Words spring to mind.
-- John von Neumann
Solve the halting problem.
The context of the quote is “If you will tell me precisely what it is that a machine cannot do” [that a human can], which addresses this objection.
Obviously, but this is a clever enough response that sidestepping the point is permissible.
Actually, it’s pretty standard, if you google the quote.
Write a bestselling novel.
Now tell me exactly what constitutes the process of writing a best-selling novel. Preferably, express it in mathematical fomulas.
Writing a string of symbols, publishing it, and selling it more times than has been managed with all but 100 strings of symbols.
Give machine A one nickel and have it produce a random sequence of 499 characters. Have machine B write a random sequence of 500 characters. Code machine A to pay machine B one nickel for its “book” whenever it has a nickel. Code machine B to give a nickel to machine A for its book whenever it has a nickel. Wait perhaps a few days, and you will have two bestselling authors reminiscent of Zach Weiner’s Macroeconomica http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2855
Selling to humans then. Also, only count the number of humans that bought the book, rather than the number of books sold, so you can’t just sell a billion copies to one person.
A more simple version: write a set of strings such that a given panel of judges considers it to be a good book.
The quote said nothing about saying “exactly what constitutes the process”, only specifying it precisely.
Best selling novel is rather broad. If we are generous, let’s say selling 10000 copies. If we are conservatinve, it is making the NYT bestselling list (isn’t there such a thing?)
Best selling novels exist in many genres, but some genres are more popular than others. Should we account for that?
What language should the novel be written in? Must it be translated?
You have a lot of free conditions when you say “Bestselling novel.” Lots of things from A Humans Guide to Words spring to mind.