The Insightful Troll

Rants and ruminations.

Homework Machine

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Homework machine

Shel Silverstein’s Homework Machine, a short poem from 1981, feels like it somehow snuck a peek at the future of AI:

The Homework Machine,
Oh, the Homework Machine,
Most perfect
contraption that's ever been seen.
Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,
Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds' time,
Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.
Here it is— 'nine plus four?' and the answer is 'three.'
Three?
Oh me . . .
I guess it's not as perfect
As I thought it would be.

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