Subject:
2004 Chatterbox Challenge Underway
Author:
anonymous
Date:
4/2/2004
Fourth Annual Chatterbox Challenge Underway
Chatbots from around the world are taking part in the fourth annual Chatterbox Challenge. Chatbots are computer programs designed to imitate human conversation, with the eventual aim of creating true virtual personalities and artificial intelligences. The Chatterbox Challenge runs from April 1 to April 30, 2004 and Internet users can talk to the competing chatbots through the competition web site at www.chatterboxchallenge.com.
The Chatterbox Challenge is run by Chris Cowart and has attracted over a hundred entries this year. The chatbots range from downloadable PC programs, through simple text chat interfaces, to moving faces with synthesised speech. The competition is being sponsored by James Livingood, an Artificial Intelligence enthusiast from the USA. Last year’s competition was won by a chatbot called Elbot, programmed by Fred Roberts.
During the competition the chatbots are quizzed by judges to see how much they know, and how well they can conduct a normal “human” conversation. Points are also awarded for personality and additional capabilities – such as remembering visitors or being able to access web based services – such as Google.
One award category is for the most popular chatbot. This is awarded on the basis of votes cast at the site. Everybody is invited to visit the site and talk to the bots, and vote for their favourite.
Organiser Chris Cowart says “We are delighted with the number of entries that we have received this year. The Chatterbox Challenge is the ideal opportunity for chatbot developers to show off their chatbots, and compare themselves with the best chatbots in the world. The sheer variety of the chatbots entered is quite amazing. Some are based around knowing lots of things from the outset, whereas others are programmed to learn as they go along.” Chris adds “Chatbot names range from Aida to Zoe, and personalities vary from a fortune teller and a serial killer to a dragon and a horse!”
Birmingham UK based chatbot developer David Burden says “As a developer the contest gives me a real opportunity to find out just how good, or bad, my chatbot is. My approach was to concentrate on the smalltalk that seems to make up much of any human conversation. I wanted to see if my chatbot, called Halo, could keep up a conversation whilst actually knowing very little. The competition is a chance for me to validate that approach.”
Chatbot technology is likely to become more and more prevalent in the coming years. Web sites using chatbots as virtual sales assistants are already reporting a 30% increase in sales. The growth in use of large screen TVs at home, and the idea of the PC as the homes media center also opens up the real possibility of having a virtual assistant at home to provide a more friendly interface to the web and to digital systems in the home. The Chatterbox Challenge gives developers and members of the general public the chance to see just how f
|