Uncovering the Voice of the Missing Secretary: A Search for the History of Talking Machines at MIT’s Distinctive Collections Archive
As the blizzard howls outside, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Distinctive Collections archive is a quiet oasis where the only sound is the falling snow. In this solitude, a researcher is on a quest to uncover the untold story of the missing secretary, a key figure in the history of talking machines.
In the world of artificial intelligence, the concept of talking machines has a long and storied history. From Alan Turing’s groundbreaking test of machine intelligence to the development of Eliza, the first chatbot created by MIT professor Joseph Weizenbaum, the idea of human-machine conversation has fascinated researchers for decades.
Eliza, named after a character in George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, was a groundbreaking program that simulated conversation with users, giving the illusion of understanding and empathy. Despite Weizenbaum’s eventual rejection of his creation, Eliza’s legacy lives on in modern-day virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa.
But amidst the excitement surrounding Eliza, one figure remains shrouded in mystery – the missing secretary. Described by Weizenbaum as a “quite normal” person whose reaction to Eliza raised concerns about the power of computer programs to induce delusional thinking, this unnamed woman’s perspective on talking machines has been largely overlooked in historical accounts.
As the researcher delves into archives and administrative records in search of the missing secretary’s voice, a broader question emerges about the often overlooked contributions of those who work behind the scenes in the development of technology. In an age where user input and labor are essential components of AI systems, the experiences and perspectives of individuals like the missing secretary are crucial to understanding the impact of technology on society.
The search for the missing secretary highlights the importance of listening to the silences in history, of uncovering the untold stories that shape our understanding of the past. As the researcher’s journey comes to a close and the blizzard rages on outside, the echo of the missing secretary’s voice remains elusive, a reminder of the hidden figures whose contributions have shaped the evolution of technology.
In a world where AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, perhaps it is time to pause and listen to the voices that have been left out of the conversation. The missing secretary’s story is a reminder that behind every technological innovation lies a human story waiting to be told.