Holy Neural Net Node Plops!

Recently Chrisf pointed out an interesting AI Competition -- 'The Learning Machine Challenge'. (you might want to zip over there now so the rest of this node makes sense).

There have, in the past, been many of these types of challenges but this one has an interesting twist; the players start NOT even knowing what game they are playing.

I know that lurking out there in Monkdom are a many devious, sneaky, twisted and brilliant ideas on how to create the killer Player. Now I know that the typical Monk is shy, humble and non-competative and may be reluctant to come out and strut her AI stuff, so I put together a little proposal that I hope will encourge the Monastery to jump up and show the world that 'we got game'!

PMAIC

'Perlmonks A.I. Challenge' -- If a minimum of 10 teams/people will agree to enter the PMAIC an inter-monastery AI challenge using the AI Competition -- 'The Learning Machine Challenge' framework and under the Rules and Guidelines stated below I MitD will offer the top three finishers a genuine handpainted, green-clay fired (not 'ur cheap plaster-of-paris) desk buddy (you can view two examples here ). In addition MitD will make a $50 donation to the Monastery's Benevolent fund in the name of the First Place finishing team/person.

Also, conditional on Tim's blessing the winning team will be the official Perl Monks Entry in the AI Competition -- 'The Learning Machine Competiton Challenge'

In order to jump start this thing I have ported an example player to Perl and it has been throughly tested using 'The Judge' app supplied by the 'The Learning Challenge' I have mounted the code on my node.

I have also created a set of preliminary Guidelines for your inspection.

The Guidelines -- subject revision as necessary

1. All entrants must adhere to the official rules of the AI Competition -- 'The Learning Machine Competiton Challenge'
2. All entries must be coded in Perl.
3. All entrants must be Perlmonk members.
4. All Player code must be published under the 'Perl Artistic License' but will only be made public after the competition.
5. Teams can consist from 1..n members. (MitD will supply prizes to all winning team members within REASON. The desk buddies are being supplied by Country Ceramics of Nottawa Ontario, Canada at cost and the custom hand painting is being done MitD's very talented children so MitD would consider winning teams of up to 5 members to be reasonable.)
6. One entry per team/person.
7. Team members are free to call on the Monastery collective for help as they would for any Perl problem.
8. In no way does PMAIC prohibit anyone from entering the 'REAL' competition.
9. MitD is the self declared 'Benevolent Dictator' of PMAIC. until he is overthrown be a power greater than himself.
10. MitD if he chooses to enter the competition will NOT be eligible for any prizes.
11. The main purpose of PMAIC to have some wierd and wacky fun. Any person/team found not to acting in an appropriate manner will be shown the door. If you are not sure what this means well... lets just say that 98.483928% of the Monastery in my opinion act in the appropriate manner.
12. VERY IMPORTANT If you wish to sign up or have questions please direct them to ai@mitd.com. DO NOT use replies to this node or CB messaging.

1. Get Tim's permission to use the Perlmonks name in the competiton. Folks there very well could be a bunch of reasons why using PerlMonk name is not a good idea. If they are they WILL NOT be held up for public debate. I will simply change name.
2. MitD would like 2 (or more) Monks to act as sources of sober second thought in the event that MitD's life is threatened.
3. I will set up a competion mailing list the minute we get our 10th entrant.
4. Entrants and feedback.

mitd-Made in the Dark
'My favourite colour appears to be grey.'