1. An introduction to chatbots Kamal Aboul-Hosn Cornell University Conversing with Computers

2. A computer program Responds to human input Variety of goals To be as human as possible Pass the Turing Test What is a Chatbot?

3. Conceived by Alan Turing Wanted to answer the question, “How do we know a computer can 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

4. Designed by Joseph Weizenbaum in 1966 A simple “psychotherapist” Easy to implement - turn around user input Overwhelmingly used The First Chat Bot

5. A Chat with Eliza Eliza: 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?

6. A Chat with Eliza Eliza: 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?

7. 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

8. ALICE can be: Smart Kamal: 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: 1 Anna: Only one? Kamal: Yes. Anna: Yeah..... Kamal: It's a joke. Anna: Heh....I didnt think it was very funny....

9. ALICE can be: Confusing Kamal: 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.

10. ALICE can be: Amusing Kamal: 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.

11. Testing a Chatbot http://www.alicebot.org/directory.html http://www.manifestation.com/neurotoys/eliza.php3