I know it sounds unlikely to anyone that scripts in lsl, but according to the BBC Technology news a firm called Novamente is working with ESC to produce AIs in pets, with the aim of branching out into babies, talking parrots etc.The article points out that they believe places such as SL "will have a ready market for artificial pets" which is true - there is already such a market. You'd hope with ESC in the mix they'll actually be adding something to the pet market as well doing their research.
Do you want you're pet whispering "Dave? Dave?" as you tear memory modules out though?
Seriously though, good luck to them all.
