Post #1973406

2026-02-27 11:48 UTC

@wolf480pl @leeloo No. Maybe this will help. 0: one action, no choice (clockwork automaton, wind-up toy) 1: different actions, no choices (RC car) 2: choice, no plan (reactive robot) 3a: plan, no on-line or off-line learning (adaptive robot) 3b: plan, no on-line learning (same number for 3a and 3b because these are effectively the same when operating) 4: on-line learning - but only what and how it has been told 5a: ability to spontaneously generate new categories of output without being explicitly asked or told to do so (WBEAT) 5b: ability to spontaneously identify new categories of the same kinds of input WBEAT 6: ability to spontaneously identify new kinds of things to learn WBEAT 7: ability to spontaneously identify new ways to learn WBEAT 8: ability to choose new things to learn WBEAT LLMs that you're not training are category 3b. They are static machines, responding to your input like an elevator responding to a button push. LLMs that learn are category 4. 1/2

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@robotistry@mstdn.ca 2026-02-27 12:10

@wolf480pl @leeloo Examples: Category 5a: a text-based LLM that spontaneously, without being asked, learns to output musical notation. Category 5b: a text-based LLM that spontaneously, unprompted, without being asked, learns to use filenames as input. Category 6: a text-based LLM that spontaneously, without being asked (directly or indirectly) learns that it can output ascii images or generate sounds instead of sentences. Category 7: a text-based LLM spontaneously changes its underlying code so that it can learn how to write novels by memorizing and imitating performances instead of via a matrix of probabilities (fundamental change to its internal capabilities) Category 8: a text-based LLM chooses when to interact with the world. (The original categories I developed years ago were based on what the system can modify: its weights, how many weights, what kinds of weights, etc. I think this might be clearer?) I don't think even Moltbook is showing anything above 4.

Open ##1973407