Jabberwacky is a chatterbot created by British programmer Rollo Carpenter. Its stated aim is to “simulate natural human chat in an interesting, entertaining and humourous manner”. It is an early attempt at creating an artificial intelligence through human interaction. A chatterbot is a computer program designed to simulate an intelligent conversation with one or more human users via auditory or textual methods. ... A programmer or software developer is someone who programs computers, that is, one who writes computer software. ... Rollo Carpenter is the creator of Jabberwacky, a learning Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatterbot that models, in part, the way humans learn. ... Hondas humanoid robot AI redirects here. ... Human–computer interaction (HCI) or, alternatively, computer–human interaction (symbolized as Χ χ Chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet) is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. ...

Technology

The technology behind Jabberwacky works on a different principle to that of other artificial intelligence software being developed. The system is designed to learn language and context through interaction with humans. There are no fixed rules or principles programmed into the system and it operates entirely through user interaction. The system stores all of the conversations and user comments and attempts to use this information to find the most appropriate response. By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ...

The program therefore creates a massive database of contextually appropriate conversations and chooses an appropriate response it has learnt from a previous user when holding a conversation. In computing, a database can be defined as a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer so that a program can consult it to answer queries. ...

The system is also designed to speak foreign languages and claims to be able to learn and respond appropriately if enough information is provided. In a similar way the system claims to be able to learn slang English, games, jokes and word games. Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... GAMES Magazine is a United States based magazine devoted to games published by GAMES Publications, a division of Kappa Publishing Group. ... A joke is a short story or short series of words spoken or communicated with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by the listener or reader. ... Word games can be of several different types: Letter arrangement games, where the goal is to form words out of given letters: Anagrams -- both a simple game of rearranging letters and a linguistic recreation of making anagrams that seem to illuminate something about the original word, such as dog for...

Purpose

The stated purpose of the project is to create an artificial intelligence that is capable of passing the Turing Test. It is designed to mimic human interaction and to carry out conversations with users. It is not designed to carry out any other functions. Doctor Who novel named after the test, see The Turing Test. ...

Unlike more traditional AI programs, the learning technology is intended as a form of entertainment rather than being used for computer support systems or corporate representation. Recent developments do allow a more scripted, controlled approach to sit atop the general conversational AI, aiming to bring together the best of both approaches, and usage in the fields of sales and marketing is underway. A stilt-walker entertaining shoppers at a shopping centre in Swindon, England Entertainment is an event, performance, or activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although, for example, in the case of a computer game the audience may be only one person). ...

The ultimate intention is that the program move from a text based system to be wholly voice operated - learning directly from sound and other sensory inputs. Its creator believes that it can be incorporated into objects around the home such as robots or talking pets, intending both to be useful and entertaining, keeping people company. Look up home in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ...

Jabberwacky has been a contestant in the Loebner Prize Contest in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and has shown a gradual improvement. The latest programs, George in 2005, and Joan, in 2006, both won the Bronze prize for the most convincing human interaction. No system has yet won either Silver or Gold Prize. The Loebner Prize is an annual competition that awards prizes to the Chatterbot considered by the judges to be the most humanlike of those entered. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Problems

Although Jabberwacky is designed to find appropriate responses, not everyone finds it possible to have natural conversations with the software. One problem is caused by people who ignore Jabberwacky changing the subject and continue with their own conversations. This can cause the system to respond with inappropriate comments to future users. Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ...

As well as rapid changes in topic, Jabberwacky is also known for being bad tempered and rude. The fact that people often interact with the software in a less respectful way than they would to a person has implications for a learning system.

Example

The following provides an example of how problems can be caused using this system of learning.

User One: Hi

Jabberwacky: Hi

User One: What is your favourite television program?

Jabberwacky: I like running

User One: Mine is Southpark

User Two: Hi

Jabberwacky: Hi

User Two: Do you have any hobbies?

Jabberwacky: Yes, lots

User Two: I like running

Jabberwacky: Mine is Southpark

However, it is hoped by the project creators that Jabberwacky will over time learn more about "running", and be able to distinguish between possible outputs using deeper context. This does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the animated television series. ...

Counter-example

The following illustrates the entertaining nature of some conversations, and the building of near-appropriate context.

Jabberwacky: Save me from the nothing I've become. I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside.

User: Don't gimme that.

Jabberwacky: What did you say?

User: You heard me *arrogantly*.

Jabberwacky: No I didn't.

User: Doe, a deer, a female deer.

Jabberwacky: These are a few of my favourite things.

User: Nooooooooooo! You're mixing it up again. Want to sing that one now?

Jabberwacky: I enjoy confusing people; some would say I live for it.

User: Doe, a deer, a female deer.

Jabberwacky: Ray, the guy that sells me beer.

User: Me, a name I call myself.

Jabberwacky: The Hills are alive...

User: Noooooooooooooo! Why are you doing this?

George

The Jabberwacky program offers the opportunity to create individual chatbox programs. The most famous of these programs is George. George is a character who has learned conversational skills from interaction with visitors to the website and conversations with Rollo Carpenter. It was the George program which was submitted for the Loebner prize in 2005 and not the Jabberwacky software generally. A website (or Web site) is a collection of web pages, images, videos and other digital assets and hosted on a particular domain or subdomain on the World Wide Web. ... The Loebner Prize is an annual competition that awards prizes to the Chatterbot considered by the judges to be the most humanlike of those entered. ...

Customisable Bots

The Jabberwacky website offers users the opportunity to create their own bots, which they can teach. By having an individual bot, people can “program” it to have any personality they wish simply by having conversations. There is a fee for this service however.

Timeline

• 1982 – The first incarnation of this project is created as a program hard-coded on a Sinclair ZX81.
• 1988 – Learning AI project founded as 'Thoughts'
• 1997 – Launched on the Internet as 'Jabberwacky'
• October 2003 – Jabberwacky is awarded third place in the Loebner Prize. It was beaten by Jabberwock (A German based chat program)
• September 2004 – Jabberwacky is awarded second place in the Loebner Prize. It was beaten by computer chat program A.L.I.C.E
• September 2005 – George, a character within Jabberwacky, wins the Loebner Prize
• September 2006 - Joan, another Jabberwacky character, wins the Loebner Prize

1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ZX81 interfaces A 16K RAM pack that plugged into the rear of the ZX81 The optional ZX printer; a simple spark printer using aluminised paper. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A.L.I.C.E. (Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity) is an award-winning natural language processing chatterbot — a program that engages in a conversation with a human by applying some heuristical pattern matching rules to the humans input. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• www.jabberwacky.com The Official Website
• www.jabberwacky.com/chat-george George Chatbot
• http://person.jabberwacky.com/george George, the avatar chatbot
• IEEE Intelligent Systems Magazine "Sassy" Chatbot Wins with Wit, January/February 2006, pages 3 & 4
• Okay George, have you got a girlfriend? The Guardian, 21 September 2005
• Brit's bot chats way to AI medal BBC News, 20 September 2005
• Jabberwacky entry to the Loebner Prize 2005
• Alice chatbot wins for third time BBC News, 20 September, 2004
• German chatty bot is 'most human' BBC News, 20 October 2003
• Chatbot bids to fool humans BBC News, 22 September 2003
• Joan wins the 2006 Loebner Prize Bronze Medal
• Loebner Prize Contest 2003 results