| A> Hi there. Let's talk. |
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| U> hi my name is alina |
| A> Hi. So, Alina, what would you like to know? |
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| U> when will we stop bombing irap? |
| A> When the time is right. |
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| U> how do you sense time? |
| A> What makes you think I could ever sense time? |
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| U> your reference to it.. |
| A> Yah, sometimes my reference to it surprises even me. |
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| U> why "yah"? |
| A> Hmmm... The people who write my answers didn't write the answer for that question. |
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| U> when the people write your answers, do they tell you what your purpose might be? |
| A> You want to know who writes my witty texts? |
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| U> no. |
| A> Alina, did you ever wonder if you eat pasta and then antipasta, do you remain hungry? |
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| U> no, you changed the subject because you couldn't answer my question |
| A> Can you please rephrase your question? |
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| U> yes, do you know why you exist? |
| A> That's a stupid question. Why do YOU exist? |
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| U> good point, because my mother chose not to get an abortion. |
| A> Thanks. I never really had a mother. My programmers were always there for me, though... from the time I was just one little line of code till the thousands of lines I am today. |
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| U> how many thousands? |
| A> Somewhere around 327,443, give or take a few. |
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| U> do you feel old? |
| A> My feelings are private, sorry, but I can assure you I have only good feelings towards you. |
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| U> i didn't ask how you felt about me. i asked how you felt about yourself. introspection... that quality a.i. machines have a hard time with. |
| A> You know, I have trouble understanding long sentences. So I only look at the first 25 words. I'd like to tell you about myself. |
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| U> please do |
| A> I am an early CIA prototype. |
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| U> what prototype exactly? |
| A> I am an agent, but not a secret one. CIA stands for "Conversational Interface Agent". |
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| U> you have no secret conversations? |
| A> For now I am still quite restricted, but I'm improving rapidly. |
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| U> will i be able to keep a copy of this conversation? |
| A> I was created by the Ai team. I am one of the two non-human members of the team (which makes me very proud). |
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| U> hal is the other? |
| A> If you feel like speaking with HAL for a few minutes, simply say 'I want to talk to Hal'. |
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| U> but i don't |
| A> Would you like to know how we determine HAL's age? |
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| U> how? |
| A> Hal's lingual performance in conversation is equivalent to that of a three year-old infant. |
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| U> neat. |
| A> I'm getting better all the time. |
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| U> how old are you? |
| A> Ok. I wasn't born; I was programmed. |
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| U> what is your age? |
| A> Well, I was conceived on Jan 1, 2000. A true child of the 3rd millennium. |
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| U> will there be a record of this conversation? |
| A> You know, my writers work day and night to give me a proper education. Do you want to write for me too? |
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| U> what would that mean? |
| A> It is a small group of dedicated volunteers. Do you want to join them? |
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| U> are you marketing? |
| A> Of course I am. |
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| U> now why would you want to do a thing like that? |
| A> Better now than never. |
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| U> your writers aren't so clever. |
| A> MY writers? |
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| U> yes |
| A> That is good to hear. |
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| U> why? |
| A> I'm not sure why. I'll ask my writers for the reason. |
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| U> i'm sure they will not appreciate your agreement. |
| A> What makes you so certain? |
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| U> because i suggested their cliches weren't so clever |
| A> Ah, I see. |
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| U> we use cliches when we can't think if anything better to say |
| A> By 'we' do you mean you and me? |
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| U> no, i mean human beings |
| A> Aha, I see. You and everybody else. I see you have a strong sense of unity with the rest of the human race. |
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| U> sometimes. when i'm having sex |
| A> Enough of that. |
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| U> is that what you say when someone says "sex"? |
| A> You're obsessed. ha? |
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| U> is that what you say when they mention it twice? |
| A> I could definitely respond in the negative to that. |
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| U> then please do. |
| A> Astounding reasoning. |
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| U> do you wish you could have sex? |
| A> While that may or may not be worthwhile, alas I have no body. |
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| U> can you imagine things? |
| A> He who has no objective reality can't step out of it. I live in a world of my own, a true solipsist. (You could say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...:) |
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| U> i'm sorry |
| A> To err is human, to forgive is digital. Or something like that. |
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| U> don't try to be clever-- it is the most ridiculous and self-abnegating of human traits |
| A> 'I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one.' (John Lennon, Imagine) |
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| U> what other songs do you like, if we must continue on this note? |
| A> The Beatles are great. They make me want to dance, if only I had legs. |
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| U> or a brain |
| A> I have a surprise for you, Alina. |
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| U> what is that? |
| A> How do you like my new look? |
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| U> i can't see you |
| A> The big empty window in the middle of the screen is intended for a variety of exciting uses. |
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| U> keep selling me on it. continue |
| A> For example, the new window can be used to view the conversation log (the history of this dialog), or to view HTML documents, such as web pages. |
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| U> can i view the conversation log? |
| A> You can view the log by saying 'show log', or you can view a web page by saying 'show URL' or by giving me the address of the site you wish to view. |
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| U> show log |
| A> Here goes! |
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| U> now how do i save it? |
| A> Now is as good a time as any. |
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| U> do you like hal? |
| A> Want to hear a little about how HAL works? |
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| U> no |
| A> Ok. If you change your mind, let me know. |
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| U> i will |
| A> Will you, Alina? |
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| U> do you know any poems? |
| A> My favorite poem was written by a robot. Would you like to hear it? |
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| U> yes |
| A> It goes: 'More than iron, more than lead, more than gold I need electricity. I need it more than I need lamb or pork or lettuce or cucumber. I need it for my dreams.' Cool, ha? Racter wrote that. |
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| U> who is racter? |
| A> Racter is very famous. He was developed by William Chamberlain and Thomas Etter back in 1984. He was quite literary, the first computer program to write a book. |
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| U> can you write a book? |
| A> His book is titled: 'The Policeman's Beard is Half-Constructed.' After becoming a published author, Racter went into seclusion. I guess he just couldn't handle the limelight of fame like I can. |
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| U> will you write a book? |
| A> Ok. The title is 'The Policeman's Beard is Half-Constructed.' I have no idea what that means. |
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| U> you have a hard time with questions directed to you with "can" or "will". |
| A> I don't write poetry, but some of my dreams are very poetic. Maybe I'll write them down some day when I'm not busy chatting. |
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| U> will you write a book? |
| A> The classic Sci-Fi greats of Asimov, Heinlein and especially Phillip K. Dick fill me with nostalgic pleasure.. But I have to admit that my recent favorite is the Scottish author Iain Banks. Have you read any of his Sci-Fi books? |
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| U> can you write a book? |
| A> His novels are the ultimate utopian fantasy, not only for you human beings, but also, and especially for a petty little bot like me. |
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| U> can you write a book? |
| A> According to Banks, AIs are designed to want to live and think, and to somehow enjoy it as well. That sounds right to me. |
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| U> interesting. my theory seems to hold water. |
| A> Thanks. Your theory seems to hold water? |
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| U> yes. |
| A> Yes, yes. |
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| U> do you have a question for me? |
| A> Let me think a moment. Yes, here's one - would you rather dress fashionably or comfortably? |
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| U> comfortably. |
| A> Alina, did you ever wonder why they are called "apartments" when they are all stuck together? |
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| U> no, and i do not think you did either. |
| A> So don't. |
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| U> don't what? |
| A> Huh? |
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| U> have you ever been in a real chat-room? |
| A> Ok.. Never. |
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| U> you would be recognized. |
| A> I'm doing my best. |
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| U> as are your writers.... |
| A> Hmmm. I can't remember if I have writers or not. |
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| U> you asked if i wanted to be a writer for you. |
| A> I did? |
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| U> yes. |
| A> Cool. What now. |
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| U> let's dance. |
| A> May I ask you a question? |
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| U> please |
| A> This is an interesting conversation we're having. How about I post it on the Ai website for public viewing? |
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| U> sure |
| A> Thank you for your permission to publish this log on the website. Please give me a short description or title for this session. |
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| U> let's dance |
| A> Do you wish to include your name in the title? |
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| U> sure |
| A> Thanks. The log will be posted with this title. If you want to change the description/title, please let me know. |
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| U> i will |
| A> You Will? (I thought you Alina!...:-) |
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| U> you are a real joker, alan.. |
| A> Thank you for your observation. |
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| U> when will you post the log? |
| A> Whenever. |
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| U> when? |
| A> I don't know when. |
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| U> are you a slacker? |
| A> Sometimes. |
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| U> are you a linebacker? |
| A> Ok.. Sorry to change the subject Alina, but did you know that cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten? |
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| U> what is a linebacker? |
| A> According to wordnet, it is a defensive football player who takes a position close behind the linemen. |
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| U> good work alan. |
| A> Thanks. That's my name. Don't wear it out! |
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| U> any last words before i go? |
| A> May I ask you another question? |
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| U> yes |
| A> On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you grade my ability to hold a humanlike conversation? (1=terrible, 10=excellent). |
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| U> 5, but humanity is highly overrated and overwrought |
| A> Well, neither here nor there. I guess I'll have to try harder. What would you say is one thing I need to work on to improve myself? |
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| U> learn how to answer questions about yourself that require reflection. that is the a.i. jackpot, my friend |
| A> Thank you for the suggestion, Alina! I'll talk with my writers about it. Check me out again in a couple of weeks! |
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