What is so special about a computer programme called Hal

A�new computer programme, called Hal, is the first artificial intelligence program to 'understand' everyday language. It has the potential to revolutionise the interaction of humans and machines, claim its creators.

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Who has invented Hal

Artificial Intelligence Enterprises of Tel Aviv, Israel.

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What is the history behind natural language programmes

Artificial intelligence researchers have been attempting to create a computer programme that can converse fluently with humans for 50 years.

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What is artificial intelligence

Often abbreviated to AI, it's the branch of computer science concerned with making computers think and behave like humans.

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How do current natural language programmes work

When faced with a question, the programme picks a key word, and then uses statistical techniques to generate appropriate replies or pick them from a pre-generated list. The results are often crude and cannot cope with short questions where there is little context to help the�computer guess an answer.

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How does Hal work

A single tutor using learning algorithms teaches Hal. The tutor types in children's stories and replies to Hal's responses, as a parent would do. The learning algorithms gradually learn what are appropriate responses and how to react to the conversational style of its tutor. New algorithms are added and the process continues.

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Basically, Hal works out how to learn language, rather than being told how to learn it.

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What is an algorithm

A formula or set of steps for solving a particular problem. For example, a recipe for baking a cake is an algorithm.

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How is Hal better than previous language programmes

Its creators claim that Hal has the vocabulary and grasp of language of a 15-month-old child. Transcripts of Hal's conversations have apparently fooled independent judges that they were from real toddlers.

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Does Hal speak different languages

At the moment it only speaks English, but it could learn any language.

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How quickly can Hal learn language

Due to the intensity of the training, it can learn the basics in just a few days, whereas children take years.

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What are the future plans for Hal

Hal's creators intend to give it the linguistic abilities of a five-year-old and predict that in the future keyboards will become redundant as computers will be able to respond to our voices.

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by Lisa Cardy