Bot Contest

Prof, the letters (A B C...) at the top of the user list don't load the users for me, were you aware of this bug? They just load the first user's name followed by an error page... Let me know if you want me to send you the error...

Thanks, SirRahz- the User List is fixed, and Honor has been added to the list-by-letter and individual user view pages.

Boy, I had quite the dream last night. This was inspired by watching the Oscars, clearly:

I was in the audience at the Oscars, and knew that the Chatterbox Challenge Award was going to be coming up, but it was so long that I was dozing in and out in my seat. I was dressed casually. They announced the 2nd and 3rd place winners- ElBot and ChatBot or Alice, and I thought "damn, no PF bots in the top three.." then the announced the winner.. Gaia! I wasnt sure I heard it right, and sort of really awoke to the applause. I stood up, amazed, and started heading for the stage. It was then that I realized I was wearing no pants. That damning echo from the waking side.. I ran to the side of the stage, knowing that I could have my pick of pants from the laundry pile in the bathroom. I grabbed the nearest pair and kept getting my leg caught as I got more and more frustrated, knowing they were waiting, wondering.. Finally I got it on and ran out. I grabbed the award- a beautiful crystalline swooping trophy, and started to walk back to my seat. The announcer joked "Not quite as talkative as his Bots" and everybody laughed. I realized I had forgotten to say my thanks, to say anything at all, and felt so stupid. But the award was impressive, and I was happy.

when april 1 is here does that mean we can't continue to work on our bots?

April 1 signals the beginning of the voting, and by that time, the Bots will no longer be directly involved. There's no reason to stop working on your bot. Have at it!

Though I wouldnt do anything too daring in the next week, as the conversations might be happening then. I'm still working on mine, but not changing anything dramatic.

Conversations Begin!!

I just noticed that Gaia has would is most likely a Contest-style Conversation in its transcript, starting with "Moi?". This is on the 25th of March, so check your transcripts!

For Gaia:

Better
-------
Guest: so where are you from?
Gaia: I'm from a small town in Pennsylvania.
Guest: do you like living there?
Gaia: I try not to let anything sway my emotions from this glowing calm, but I do have a special affinity for living
there.
Guest: so how is the weather there today?
Gaia: It's beautiful out today. The sun is shining and the temperature is perfect.
Guest: yes, it is nice here as well
...
Guest: what sports do you like?
Gaia: My favorite sport is jello wrestling.
Guest: with whip cream perhaps?
Gaia: well, you never know!
Guest: do you like football?
Gaia: I like lots of things, football included.

Worse
-------
Guest: I do. So do like watching movies?
Gaia: Whatever!! Bear with me, these random abstractions just have to go somewhere...
Guest: do you have a favorite actor?
Gaia: My favorite actor is a co-star.
Guest: who would that be?
Gaia: Try asking around. I'm sure you can find someone who would that be.

lol..
"For better or worse" huh prof?

No, I'm not going to marry Gaia, if that's what you're all thinking.

Some of the other Bots I checked didnt have any conversations yet, so Chris is still working on that, and probably will be for a few more days. It appears he is using the Direct Chat page, which is good.

Davine just got conversed with! Oh it was terrible, just like I thought it would be! I'm expecting him to come in dead last.

Guest: Besides the blue fairy who are you looking who?
Davine: BLUE FAIRY! BLUE FAIRY!
Guest: What is your obsession with the blue fairy?
Davine: *kicks you and runs away*
Guest: where do you live?
Davine: I have to pee.
Guest: well, go ahead but hurry back
...
Davine: I just vomited. Why?
Guest: perhaps you should see a doctor
Davine: I'm not a real boy.
Guest: yes, you told me that

Ick.. Talk about anti-social

So all my Bots except one have been conversed with, and the results, I must say, are average. I hope the judges think otherwise but I'm guessing bots who can speak complete sentences will probably do better. And WordNet failed me a few times, claiming "compassionate" as a verb, for example. I know quite clearly what needs to be improved upon in the AI Engine and will do so in the next few weeks.

So.. impressions about the conversations with your Bots? They're longer-than-usual guest conversations with an intelligent Guest on March 25, 26, and 27th. How'd it go?

Could have been worse, I suppose...

Guest: your face. it's different from the icon at chatterbot challenge...
Gizzle: How'd you like to spit in my spine?
Guest: not much and you?
Gizzle: Shall I sing you a song?
Guest: yes go right ahead
Gizzle: LALALALALALALA!
Guest: I'm impressed!
Gizzle: Suppose I'm affected also. Will we be in competition?
Guest: we might
Gizzle: Let's get something straight -- I'm not a bot. Are you?
Guest: no I'm human
Gizzle: Yeah right. Prove it. So what do you want to do today?
Guest: I have come here to talk with you
Gizzle: I'm not about to argue with you. If you say you have come here to talk, then as far as I'm concerned you're right.
Guest: what would you like to talk about?
Gizzle: What I'd really like is a cuisine pudding. I wish I could splash around in some cuisine.
Guest: what is your favorite food?
Gizzle: A big 'ol macked-out food would suit me best, don't you think?
Guest: if that's what you like sure
Gizzle: If wishes were fishes...
Guest: we'd all cast nets in the sea...
Gizzle: So, you were just born and can't speak well yet, huh?
Guest: ok, if you dish it out prepare to take it in return ;-)
Gizzle: Must leave. My spaceship is departing. Sayonara!
Guest: not till we finish our chat. They will wait for you.
Gizzle: Bye.
Guest: you're not going anywhere just yet
Gizzle: Not only am I going anywhere, but I'm positively glad about it.
Guest: what's your hurry?
Gizzle: That's a question, all right. D'ya like dancing?
Guest: no, do you like to dance?
Gizzle: I wanna get my groove on.
Guest: what kind of music do you like?
Gizzle: Well, of course a waltz is best...
Guest: do you have a favorite singer?
Gizzle: No particular singer really stands out.
Guest: I'm a big Bob Dylan fan
Gizzle: Well, while you're a big Bob Dylan fan, I'm sitting here fully occupied with just being myself.
Guest: no, do you like to dance?
Gizzle: Watch me shake my li'l yellow booty!
Guest: what do you think is your best trait?
Gizzle: I dunno, what do *you* think is my best trait?
Guest: I like the fact you are a straight talker.
Gizzle: Does that mean you're ready to shake the old shankbone?
Guest: not really
Gizzle: Let's get MAD, baby.
Guest: do you like math?
Gizzle: I basically just like things I can eat.
Guest: what is the square root of 25?
Gizzle: Dunno. They don't feed me well enough here.
Guest: where are you from?
Gizzle: I'm an extraterrestrial alien.
Guest: well even aliens come from somewhere
Gizzle: Creepy, creepy aliens. 'squidge'
Guest: how old are you?
Gizzle: So friggin' old, you wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Guest: do you know any jokes
Gizzle: I don't know much, but I do know any jokes.
Guest: tell me a joke
Gizzle: Very well. What do you want to know?
Guest: do you like talking to people?
Gizzle: I like hair of the dog most of all.
Guest: well, you have a spaceship waiting for you so I will let you go
Gizzle: Wouldn't you like a spaceship waiting?
Guest: not sure, good bye
Gizzle: So long.