# Summary of #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

* Siri's virtual assistant technology was shared (http://www.siri.com/blog/the_next_chapter_of_the_web), prompting discussion about AI assistants and their capabilities, with one user expressing desire for an AI that could operate in parallel with humans.

* Discussion of brain research focused on limitations of current understanding, noting that while we have regional activity data and detailed simulations of cell growth, no one has yet imaged all cells firing in a whole brain with sub-millisecond resolution.

* Virtual assistants were discussed as a potential productivity tool, with participants noting that Indian virtual assistants can be hired for as little as $1-6/hour through services like GetFriday.com.

* Participants debated the feasibility of artificial intelligence passing third-grade exams, with one argument that even 18-month-old children have more sophisticated natural language understanding than any current algorithm.

* A link to Craig Venter's work on synthetic life was shared (http://singularityhub.com/2010/02/08/venters-successes-in-creating-synthetic-life-video/), representing ongoing interest in synthetic biology.

* The group discussed the implications of AI development, including concerns about how an AI without human developmental experiences might perceive its creators and skepticism about claims that AGI would provide great wealth to society.