Unlike most chatterbots, which simply invert the syntax of the question, Cleverbot taps into a broad pool of human experience. It has come remarkably close to passing the Turing Test, the standard by which thinking machines are judged to be truly human. According to the Machine Intelligence Competition, which it won in 2010, it has been deemed 42% human.
Some say that the day will come when artificial minds will surpass ours, a day they call the Singularity.
Cleverbot has had over 65 million conversations with humans, so it must know something about human experience.
I asked Cleverbot a few questions.
Q. What is the color of water?
A. Black with orange spots.
Q. What do you see when you look at the sunset?
A. Faces.
Q. How are dreams different from reality?
A. Easy. My mum told me.
Q. How does the light change at the end of the day?
A. Pay attention, please. Next is Venus, which is almost the same size as Earth. It has a very thick atmosphere that traps in heat from the sun. The surface is scorching hot.
Q. What colors would you use to express joy?
A. Yellow and blue.
Q. What is the purpose of art?
A. I don't know, you're supposed to be the clever one.
Cleverbot.com
Cleverbot on Wikipedia
Chatterbots
The Singularity
Image: Turner "Buttermere Lake with Park of Cromackwater"
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