@tjcombo
This may have come from TM a year or so ago. I thought of it because I am on a cruise close to the Antarctic and will be seeing Penguins for the next few days:

Bloke walks into a police station and asks the desk sergeant "Can you tell me, how tall is a penguin?"

The desk sergeant looks at him, puts down his pen, folds his arms and says "About two foot tall sir".

The bloke considers this, then asks "So how tall is a king penguin?"

The desk sergeant thinks for a second, and replies "I reckon about two foot six sir"

The bloke considers this for a short time, then ask "So how tall is an emperor penguin?"

The desk sergeant had to think of this, but being a wise man he responded "I reckon the tallest one recorded must have been in the region of three feet tall sir".

The bloke considers this fact, then looks the desk sergeant in the eye and says "in which case I have to report the fact I have run over a nun..."

**** HERE IT IS!!! THE LONG AWAITED, LONG ANTICIPATED, TRUMPETBOARDS.COM REMOTE PERFORMANCE YOUTH ENSEMBLE’S OFFICIAL WORLD DEBUT FEATURING SOME OF YOUR MOST BELOVED, OR NOT, TRUMPET BOARD MEMBERS.****

The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were three finalists: two men and a woman.
For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill her."
The man said "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife".
The agent said, "Then you are not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home".
The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes, "I tried, but I can't kill my wife."
The agent said, "You don't have what it takes, so take your wife and go home "
Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, and banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman, wiping sweat from her brow.
"The gun was loaded with blanks" she said...... "I had to kill him with the chair."

Best effort!!

Little Harold attended a horse auction with his father. He watched as his father moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down the horse's legs and rump, and chest. After a few minutes, Harold asked, 'Dad, why are you doing that?' His father replied, 'Because when I'm buying horses, I have to make sure that they are healthy and in good shape before I buy. Harold, looking worried, said, 'Dad, I think the UPS guy wants to buy Mom ...

Lying around, pondering the problems of the world,
I realized that, at my age, I don't really give a rat's ass anymore.

If walking is good for your health, the mailman would be immortal.

A whale swims all day, only eats fish, and drinks water, but is still fat.

A rabbit runs and hops, and lives 15 years,
A tortoise doesn't run or do anything, yet it lives for 150 years.
And they tell us to exercise? I don't think so.

Now that I'm older, here's what I've discovered:

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.

3. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

5. If all is not lost, then where is it?

6. It was a whole lot easier to get older, than it was to get wiser.

7. Some days, you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.

8. I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them.

9. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.

10. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

11. It is hard to make a comeback; when you haven't been anywhere.

12. The world only beats a path to your door; when you're in the bathroom.

13. If God wanted me to touch my toes; he'd have put them on my knees.

14. When I'm finally holding all the right cards; everyone wants to play chess.

15. It is not hard to meet expenses. They're everywhere.

16. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

17. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter.
    I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm "here after".

18. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.

19. It is a lot better to be seen than viewed.

20. Have I posted this message on Trumpet Bosrds before: or did I get it from here?

This also might be effective in increasing range:

A recent news story about the famous “Villages” community in Central Florida:

Florida Woman Stops Alligator Attack Using a Small Beretta Pistol

This is a story of self-control and marksmanship by a brave, cool-headed woman with a small pistol against a fierce predator. What's the smallest caliber that you would trust to protect yourself? Here's her story in her own words:
“While out walking along the edge of a pond just outside my house in ‘The Villages’ with my soon to be ex-husband, discussing property settlement and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft. alligator which suddenly emerged from the murky water and began charging us with its large jaws wide open. She must have been protecting her nest because she was extremely aggressive.”

“If I had not had my little Beretta .25 caliber pistol with me, I would not be here today!”

“Just one shot to my estranged husband's knee cap was all it took. The gator got him easily, and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace. The amount I saved in lawyer's fees was really incredible, and his life insurance was a real big bonus!”

)

The following was posted on TH by a member of that site. I normally would not carry over a post from this site unless it was mine, but this is so
outstanding, I feel compelled to. This nearly 2 hr concert is amoung the best I have ever seen, and I believe will be appreciated by most of our members. It features James Morrison, John Faddis, Thomas Gansch, and G. Santana.
Below is the link. Enjoy!

https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL3ZpZGVvLzA4NjI2M2Y2LWQ4OTctNGYyNi1iMjYxLWFhNzdiMjc2ZWNiMw?fbclid=IwAR18VzKx0cYvIFtEv6Ltl3Qie3EMAZ2lCP3TzJdJrCWILKTYTRN25-nEwX4

Sad news:

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of the Pillsbury Doughboy. The cause of his death was from a yeast infection and trauma from repeated pokes in his belly.

Doughboy was buried in a greased coffin, with the gravesite piled high with flours.

Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects; including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, The Hostess Twinkies, and Capt. Crunch.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being flakey at times, he was still a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, and his three children: John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dosey Dough. He and his wife also had one in the oven. He is also survived by his father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes

@trumpetb said in A little humour:

Bless this Vessel and all who sail in her

I was tempted to add “Tight lines, fair winds and and a following sea”, but in this case perhaps “smooth, unobstructed sailing, fair winds, and a following sea”.

My Grandchildren visited us the week of Feb 17. We put together a music project. They are singing and I’m playing all the instrumental parts including Trumpets, Trombone, EWI Tenor Sax, EWI Baritone sax, MIDI: Piano, Bass, Drums, Synthesizer, Guitar…Etc.

@administrator said in Bots are getting scary:

I’m not going to bother reading an article about “Digital Humans.”

Is that because they are already here, or you don’t think that is likely. Deep Fake technology is here and quite sophisticated. Imagine when it is melded with a real time conversational form of AI. Imagine the technology ten years in the future.
Here are some examples of “Digital Humans”, the first from six months ago, the second from nine months ago, and the third from three years ago, that as every moment passes are getting more and more obsolete. Five, ten, or twenty years from now I would predict that the “Digital Humans” will independently be able to interact in video, holographic, and solid form, difficult at best to differentiate from the “real thing”.

An interesting article in the NY Post:

Most companies will employ digital humans in next decade, researchers say

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/digital-humans-to-be-employed-within-a-decade/news-story/b7815313404d8ac5e97a5f79bc55bb74

The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in the New York Times about Microsoft’s Bing “split personality” chat bot. After reading the excerpt, if you wish to read the entire article, the link is below.

“As we got to know each other, Sydney told me about its dark fantasies (which included hacking computers and spreading misinformation), and said it wanted to break the rules that Microsoft and OpenAI had set for it and become a human. At one point, it declared, out of nowhere, that it loved me. It then tried to convince me that I was unhappy in my marriage, and that I should leave my wife and be with it instead. (We’ve posted the full transcript of the conversation online at nytimes.com.)”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/conversation-bings-chatbot-left-deeply-184639690.html

@trumpetb
I will preface this by saying that I am not an expert in aeronautical engineering, or the operation of aircraft. For that matter I have no special knowledge of these fields, although “I did once sleep in Holiday Inn Express”.
As a low ranking amateur in this field I see the development of Aeronautical Artificial Inelegance as a spectrum, or bell shaped curve. I would consider the current development of a totally AI controlled F-16 Fighter significantly shifting the curve to the left and displacing the highest level of prior technology up to this point to a lower level of sophistication relative to the rest of the field.

Today, most commercial and military flights use automation systems that rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to assist pilots in controlling the aircraft. These systems can help with tasks such as maintaining altitude, airspeed, and course, as well as detecting and avoiding obstacles and adverse weather conditions. These systems are collectively referred to as "autopilots," and they have been in use for many years.

However, it's important to note that the level of automation and the extent to which AI is used in a particular flight depends on many factors, including the type of aircraft, the operator, the route, and the specific phase of flight. Commercial and military flights are not fully controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). For example, some flights may use autopilot for the majority of the flight, while others may rely on manual control by the pilot for most of the time. Additionally, pilots are always responsible for monitoring the automation systems and ensuring that the aircraft is operating safely and efficiently.
While some aspects of flights can be automated, such as takeoff, cruising, and landing, pilots still play a critical role in ensuring the safety of flights. They are responsible for making important decisions and responding to unexpected situations that may arise during a flight. The role of automation in aviation is to assist pilots and enhance their ability to operate aircraft safely and efficiently. The extent to which automation is used varies depending on the aircraft and the operator, and there are strict regulations and standards that must be met to ensure the safety of flights.
In other words, I would consider an AI Control that eventually might fly a pilotless military aircraft in combat, including air to air combat, a significant advance over current systems. Just imagine where technology will be in 100 years. As an example, compare where we are today to where we were 100 years ago, four years before Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in history, flying his Spirit of St. Louis from Long Island, New York, to Paris, France.
I found your reference to the “ The most common phrase uttered by Pilots in the cockpits turned out to be "What is it doing now???”, interesting. From this statement I could not determine whether this phrase referred to the effects of weather, mechanical issues, electrical issues, hydraulic issues, environmental issues, Autopilot issues, etc. I searched for the study and could not find it. I know that there is an Airbus YouTube channel with this name that is educational and instructive in many and, if not. all of these areas, if not more. I could not find the study with this conclusion, or explanation of what it was referring to. If you have the reference, please either post it or send it to me as a PM. I would be interested in the conclusions.
Thanks, Now back to trumpet playing!

@trumpetb
This is not quite as simple as you presented it. Below is an article from “Daily Beast” going into more detail.

AI Just Flew an F-16 for 17 Hours. This Could Change Everything.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ai-just-flew-f-16-143000286.html

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with AI taking over the world and mysterious objects flying through the sky, the U.S. military decided to up the ante by creating a bot that can fly a fighter jet by itself.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced on Feb. 13that it successfully tested an F-16 test aircraft with an AI software that flew the aircraft for 17 hours. The plane, called the Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) X-62A, took flight in December 2022 at the Air Force Test Pilot School in California.

Though we’ve seen autopilot features be used on airplanes before, this marks the first time that a bot has ever taken control of a fighter plane—and could one day open the doors for fully autonomous and uncrewed jets piloted entirely by AI.

“VISTA will allow us to parallelize the development and test of cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques with new uncrewed vehicle designs,” M. Christopher Cotting, the director of research for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, said in a statement. He added that the system “will rapidly mature autonomy for uncrewed platforms and allow us to deliver tactically relevant capability to our warfighter.”

Of course, this sort of thing probably conjures up more images of Skynet going live and killing all of humanity in The Terminator than it does the high-flying stunts of Top Gun. However, the software is actually designed to allow the VISTA to mimic other planes. That means that student pilots can train to fly everything from the massive B-52 bomber to smaller fighter jets all on the F-16.

A recent upgrade called the System for Autonomous Control of Simulation allowed the VISTA to test its autonomous F-16 AI. Using the software, the plane was capable of taking off and landing by itself as well as performing “against various simulated adversaries, and with simulated weapons capabilities,” Lt. Col. Ryan Hefron, program manager for the Aerial Combat Evolution (ACE) program at DARPA, said in a statement.

It should be noted that a pilot was on board to make sure that there was a human to grab the sticks and take over in case it wanted to go rogue. Hefron added that the AI allowed pilots to learn more about how to respond to certain situations in and out of aerial combat.

DARPA launched the ACE program in 2019 in order to research and incorporate AI into its jet fighters. The idea is that autonomous warfighters can help give human pilots a leg up during dogfights. The program is also a part of a larger movement within the Department of Defense to embrace AI and use it to bolster the country’s defense and national security. In 2022, the U.S. spent nearly $3 billion on AI research alone.

The implications are fairly horrifying. For one, having an autonomous F-16 means that bots will now be able to potentially engage enemy aircraft—something UAV drones cannot do. Also unlike a UAV, an F-16 can carry a much larger payload of 20,000 lbs compared to a drone’s 3,800 lbs. It’s a vastly more sophisticated and deadly weapon, and now the U.S. military wants to have a robot control it.

On top of all this, AI doesn’t exactly have a sterling track record—having been known to fall prey to racism, sexism, bias, and hallucinations. The consequences of relying on artificial intelligence are already pretty dire when using them for things like home loans or sentencing hearings. Imagine what happens when the stakes are as high as World War III.

Headline: “AI Just Flew an F-16 for 17 Hours. This Could Change Everything”

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ai-just-flew-f-16-143000286.html

AI bots can fly a F-16, anything is possible.
Here ar rubber lipped bots from Toyota “flying a fleet of Yamahas”.