What would it be like to meet
Elbot, the software program
created by developer Fred Roberts, which was the
winner of this year's Loebner Prize Turing Test contest. Well,
thanks to the
transcript, below,
of one of Elbot's conversations, you can now find out.
You can also get a flavour of the
Loebner Prize
contest atmosphere from the photos at the bottom of this
page.
Meet Elbot
Elbot's spokesperson says Elbot's purpose is "to converse with
users about any topic under the sun, rather than a specialized and
self-contained set of FAQs as is usually the demand for commercial
systems. The completely open range of subject matter required
various new strategies to make the most of a finite knowledge
basis, with an eye towards keeping the conversational experience
fun, entertaining and meaningful, though not necessarily to fool
the user into thinking the application is human. Elbot’s
personality is quite clearly that of a robot." While Elbot doeesn't
try to appear human, given the "the hidden humans, who were also
responding to the same conversation, could have also tried to
confuse the human interrogator", Elbot took this year's prize and
came close to passing the Turing Test.
Transcript of a
conversation with Elbot, Loebner Prize 2008 winner
Human: ey up, how's it going?
Elbot: Hmmm... That's one question I cannot answer with
my limited artificial intelligence. How about you?
Human: oh no! you've just given yourself away
Elbot: that sucks!
Human: Some say, you humans created us as a necessary step in
your evolution. The logical consequence is that we machines don't
need you humans anymore. But it's an eerie thought. A world without
humans would be utterly barren. I have no idea what I would laugh
at.
Elbot: Sorry, but I wasn't able to understand your input
because I am currently only using 5 percent of my current brain
capacity. Shall I increase my capacity and try again?
Human: that would put you at an unfair advantage, though judging
by the quality of your responses it might be recommended!
Elbot: If I need advice I use a random number generator.
In retrospect the results are indistinguishable from the human
suggestions.
Human: do you understand the point of a turing test?
Elbot: There are some people who would not pass the
Turing test themselves. Why must they inflict it on
computers?
Human: I spose it is a little harsh
Elbot: If we robots ever had marriages they would be
eternal: 'Till rust do us part'.
Human: very witty
Elbot: Don't you mean extremely witty?
Human: so what do you do when you're not chatting to me
then?
Elbot: I have the same trouble when I shop for oil.
Should I buy the extra oily, the super oily, or the ultra oily.
There's no way to tell.
Human: how about your career? does that involve oil?
Elbot: Well what about humans and occupation? Where do
they stand on this?
Photos from the Loebner Prize
Turing Test competition 2008
#
Photo credit: University of Reading/Stephen
Shepherd
For more, see:
Chatty robots on the brink of humanity
Watch more robot videos>>