The Nightmare Machine 找出潛意識的恐懼 ── 惡夢製造機 Machines are starting to think on their own, and they are learning how to scare us.
機器現在正開始獨立思考，並學習如何嚇我們。
Smart computers taking over the world used to be science fiction. These days, however, true artificial intelligence▼ is just around the corner. Many people are already afraid that computers are getting too smart for their own good. Given this fear, it is surprising that scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) designed an artificial intelligence to frighten us. They call it the Nightmare Machine. The project's goals are to ease people's fear towards intelligent machines and make their AI smarter.
Luckily, the Nightmare Machine isn't as scary as it sounds. It is just a program that edits pictures to make them look scarier. For example, the Nightmare Machine can change the colors and shapes of famous landmarks to make them look like they are old and haunted▼. The results are frightening, but the really scary images are those of people's faces.
The Nightmare Machine can turn anyone into a monster. It twists and rearranges faces in very disturbing ways. People can vote for the scariest images on their website to help improve the Nightmare Machine's ability to learn. Once people get involved, they will see that artificial intelligence is not as scary as it seems.
take over... 佔領／接管……
Who will take over Vivian's job after she has her baby?
薇薇安生產後，誰將接手她的工作呢？
intelligent a. 有智慧的；聰明的
We think of Bill as the most intelligent student in the class.
我們一致認為比爾是班上最聰明的學生。
program n. 電腦程式
The program wasn't working, so I had to restart the computer.
這個程式無效，因此我得將電腦重新開機。
edit vt. 編輯
Kevin edited a daily newspaper before he came to teach at our college.
凱文來我們大學任教之前擔任過一份新聞日報的編輯。
landmark n. 地標
Taipei 101 is an easily recognizable landmark in Taipei.
台北 101 大樓是台北市很容易辨認的地標。
rearrange vt. 重新排列；重新安排
The TV network rearranged its programming schedule in a bid to increase its ratings.
該電視台重新安排它的節目時間以試著提高收視率。
* in a bid to V 試著……
disturbing a. 令人不安的
It is disturbing when a stranger knocks on the door.
有陌生人敲門時很令人不安。
get involved (in...) 涉入／從事（……）
Judy observed the student protest but did not get involved.
茱蒂在一旁觀察那些學生抗議，但沒有參與其中。
▼ artificial intelligence n. 人工智慧 ▼ haunted a. 鬧鬼的
used to V 的用法
本文 "Smart computers taking over the world used to be science fiction." 中的 used to V 為固定用法，表「過去曾經做……」（但現在不再這麼做），這個片語最常與 be used to... 搞混，要注意的是 be used to 其後不加原形動詞，而要加名詞或動名詞，表「習慣……」。例：
My father used to go jogging every morning.
（我爸爸以前每天都會去晨跑。）
Peter is used to delivering speeches in front of a large crowd.
（彼得習慣了在很多人面前演講。）
