An introduction to chatbotsKamal Aboul-HosnCornell University

Conversing with Computers

A computer program

Responds to human input

Variety of goals

To be as human as possible

Pass the Turing Test

What is a Chatbot?

Conceived by Alan Turing

Wanted to answer the question, “How do we know a computercan think?”

Recast the question as a “game”: If a person talking via a computer to another person and a computer program cannot distinguish between the two, the machine passes the test.

The Turing Test

Designed by Joseph Weizenbaum in 1966

A simple “psychotherapist”

Easy to implement - turn around user input

Overwhelmingly used

The First Chat Bot

A Chat with ElizaEliza: Is it because of your plans that you say you have problems?Kamal: No, my plans have nothing to do with it.Eliza: Maybe your life have something to do with this.Kamal: Yes, my life does.Eliza: What makes you believe yes your life does?Kamal: What do you mean?Eliza: Is it because of the people you hang around with that you say what do I mean?

A Chat with ElizaEliza: Is it because of problems at school that you are going through all this?Kamal: No.Eliza: Why not?Kamal: School is great.Eliza: Tell me about your school.Kamal: I go to Cornell.Eliza: Are you sure that you go to cornell?Kamal: Yes, I'm sure.Eliza: Is it because of any hobbies you have that you say yes you are sure?

More Recently...A.L.I.C.E.

Created by Dr. Richard S. Wallace

Goal was not the same as Eliza’s:

An automated retrieval & response system

Today, many implementations as an open source project

Won the Loebner Prize in 2000 & 2001

ALICE can be: SmartKamal: Parlez-vous francis?Alice: No I don't speak a word of French.

Kamal: I have a joke for you.Kamal: How many dull people does it take to change a light bulb?Anna: I don't know. How many does it take?Kamal: 1Anna: Only one?Kamal: Yes.Anna: Yeah.....Kamal: It's a joke.Anna: Heh....I didnt think it was very funny....

ALICE can be: ConfusingKamal: Who is your favorite author?Alice: My favorite author is Thomas Pynchon.Kamal: What did he write?Alice: Searching history files. Stand by.Alice: While you are waiting, try an open source search engine to search for it? I get it. Tony Blair write.

ALICE can be: AmusingKamal: Who are your friends?Anna: Um....David, who's in my boyfriend, and Allison, who's in my dorm....lots of people.

...Anna: I have a boyfriend....Kamal: What is his name?Anna: His name is Rich.Kamal: And David is in him?Anna: You sound like you know him pretty well.

Testing a Chatbot

http://www.alicebot.org/directory.html

http://www.manifestation.com/neurotoys/eliza.php3