# Can you beat this A.I. 20 Questions Game? (Similar to 'Sitcom or Dictator') **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503 "2004-02-04T16:57:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/1 "2004-02-04T16:57:30Z")
Not perfect, but I thought it was interesting. [20 Questions](http://y.20q.net:8095/btest?ArbzSUSUv,NIMaHBPQIVKfX5OK) ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/2 "2004-02-04T17:06:13Z")
**You win** You were thinking of lotion. You said it is classified as Vegetable, I say Other. Can it fit in an envelope? You said Yes, I say No. Can it cheer you up? You said Yes, I say No. Is it shiny? You said Yes, I say No. Is it flexible? You said Irrelevant, I say Probably. Contradictions Detected It does not matter if our answers disagree, as over time the game will change its answers to reflect common knowledge. If you feel that the game is in error, the only way to fix it is to play again. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/3 "2004-02-04T17:15:25Z")
It took 28 questions to come up with ramen noodles. And my lunch defeats an A.I.!!! ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/4 "2004-02-04T17:20:42Z")
If this is anything like the dictator game, to win all you need to do is think of something that no one has thought of before. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/5 "2004-02-04T17:25:49Z")
I won, 29 questions from the computer and then I had to pick it from the list. I was playing with “information” as the term/concept > [@](#): > > You were thinking of information. > Is it pleasurable? You said Irrelevant, I say Yes. > Is it hard? You said Unknown, I say No. > Can you hold it? You said Yes, I say No. > Is it soft? You said Unknown, I say No. > Can you play games with it? You said Yes, I say Doubtful. > Is it used for communications? You said Unknown, I say Yes. > Does it move? You said No, I say Yes. > Does it require specific knowledge to use it? You said No, I say Yes. > Is it used to calculate? You said Yes, I say No. I disagree with some of the contradictions, but that’s ok - because some of them I wasn’t sure how to answer. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/6 "2004-02-04T17:25:54Z")
It took 17 questions to get “giraffe,” but didn’t get “teabag.” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/7 "2004-02-04T17:30:34Z")
it couldn’t identify my mug warmer at all; it didn’t recognize “hot plate” or “coffee warmer” either. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/8 "2004-02-04T17:42:47Z")
It got caterpillar, fence and well pump pretty quickly. That’s sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/9 "2004-02-04T18:20:02Z")
Got it in 20. You were thinking of a newspaper. Is it smaller than a loaf of bread? You said Unknown, I say No. Is it soft? You said Unknown, I say Probably. Is it pleasurable? You said Irrelevant, I say Yes. Didn’t get this one: You were thinking of a clipboard. Does it bring joy to people? You said Unknown, I say No. Do you use it at night? You said Maybe, I say No. Can you put something into it? You said No, I say Yes. Can you find it in a house? You said Rarely, I say Yes. Is it used by the police? You said Unknown, I say Yes. Do you put things in it? You said No, I say Yes. Is it shiny? You said Partly, I say No. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/10 "2004-02-04T22:27:35Z")
It couldn’t get cutlass! ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/11 "2004-02-04T23:14:02Z")
I got it twice on race car. Odd game. Selected contradictions and “uncommon knowledge”. > [@](#): > > [ul] > [li]Does it use electricity? You said Yes, I say No.[/li][li]Can you touch it? I say Doubtful[/li][li]Is it a rodent? I say Probably.[/li][li]Is it commonly harvested? I say Probably.[/li][li]Does it have a pointed snout? I say Probably.[/li][li]Does it photosynthesize? I say Probably.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/12 "2004-02-04T23:41:17Z")
I like things like this because it’s interesting how very complex and “intelligent” databases arise from simple programs and user input. Some similar online examples: [http://test.thespark.com/gendertest/](http://test.thespark.com/gendertest/) [http://www.guessthename.com](http://www.guessthename.com) ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/13 "2004-02-04T23:44:23Z")
It took 29 questions to get a donut. Is it conscious? I say Yes. Is it a renewable resource? I say Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/14 "2004-02-05T00:14:03Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > I like things like this because it’s interesting how very complex and “intelligent” databases arise from simple programs and user input. Some similar online examples: > > [http://test.thespark.com/gendertest/](http://test.thespark.com/gendertest/) > [http://www.guessthename.com](http://www.guessthename.com) Aww, man. I took the gender test. It got “male” but I was inthe ABSOLUTE FUCKING MIDDLE! EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE! I am straight. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/15 "2004-02-05T01:46:59Z")
It’s quite clever. I think it needs slightly different answers. Maybe “sort of” and “yes, but that’s not what it’s designed for.” I think the style leads to a lot of awkward questions. Can you have fun with a bottle cap? Can you buy a bottle cap at a store? Do you use a bottle cap at work? They’re not quite irrelevent, yet aren’t definately yes or no either, so people probably answer them differently. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/16 "2004-02-05T02:54:56Z")
Penis is a lot of fun. Can you play games with it? Does it go in your mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/17 "2004-02-05T03:00:29Z")
Many of the other questions listed after the game are weird… > [@](#): > > **You were thinking of a calendar.** > Does it have cash value? You said Yes, I say No. > > **Uncommon Knowledge about a calendar** > Is it a herbivore? I say Yes. > Does it live in cities? I say Yes. > Does it swim? I say Yes. > Does it bite? I say Yes. > Does it dig holes? I say Yes. > Does it have a long tail? I say Yes. Uncommon knowledge, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/18 "2004-02-05T03:37:46Z")
It got “printer” in 17 questions. Didn’t manage to get a match for “cucumber”, “booger”, “Pythagorean Theorem”, “street”, or “butt” on its own. > [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Aww, man. I took the gender test. It got “male” but I was inthe ABSOLUTE FUCKING MIDDLE! EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE! Yeah, you think you got it bad? Apparently, mere exposure to the multitude of penis-enlarging spam offers I’ve received has had adverse effects. Won’t Honey be surprised when I show him. 😃 And at 86% male, I’m a better man than you, Ilsa\_Lund. _heh_ ---
**Author:** ![Kerrigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/49beb7/32.png) [@Kerrigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerrigan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/19 "2004-02-05T03:44:04Z")
27 questions for “roller coaster.” It guessed “ferris wheel” about halfway through. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503/20 "2004-02-05T07:03:41Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > It took 28 questions to come up with ramen noodles. And my lunch defeats an A.I.!!! The scary thing is if enough people try ramen noodles on the AI, it will **LEARN** what is a ramen noodle. It manages to get durian the last time I try. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-this-a-i-20-questions-game-similar-to-sitcom-or-dictator/227503.md?page=2)