Omg!!!

[squarebear]

Some of you may remember that I dabble in Artificial Intelligence and in particular, chatbot technology. Some of you may have even talked to my Mitsuku creation. Well, I entered the equivalent of the World Cup for chatbots called the Loebner Prize and I actually won the thing. My chatbot is now officially the best chatbot program in the world!

The BBC interviewed me today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24107790

I am appearing on websites all over the world and will be appearing on French TV in a documentary about AI and also on Austrian Radio. I may also be in New Scientist as they interviewed me as well.

Poland: http://www.rp.pl/artykul/320825,1048677-Pogadac-z-maszyna.html
Austria: http://www.goedel.at/it-news/Eintr%C3%A4ge/6559-chatbot-mitsuku-gewinnt-loebner-preis-2013
Germany: http://futurezone.at/digital-life/chatbot-mitsuku-gewinnt-loebner-preis-2013/26.950.435

I even found one reference to me on a Chinese website:
http://www.cnbeta.com/articles/252869.htm

According to Google, the first part translates as:
"The annual Le Buna Artificial Intelligence Award (Loebner prize) award to deceive mankind chatting with a computer program…"

Deceiving mankind was not my intention!

I also appeared on a Head Squeeze Youtube video as part of BBC Worldwide in which several people who had connections to the contest were interviewed:

James May (from Top Gear) normally presents these things but I don't believe he does the live stuff.

I just thought I would tell you all, as many of you helped me when I entered it in a comedy competition. I now have a big shiny medal and a prize cheque for $4,000 which the wife has already spent, although I did insist on a few quid to celebrate down the pub.

[Stephen_G]

Well done, squarebear!

[daffy654]

Congratulations squarebear :)

[askyourgran]

Well done, and well deserved squarebear.

[Quoi]

kewl!!

[pixie373]

Omg! Don't understand a word of it, but well done! :-):-)

[rockyracoon]

Well done Squarebear

[Mamyalynne]

Great news, well done!!

[joggerjayne]

Wow, fab, wow, wow, and more fab !!

That is BRILLIANT !!

Clever, clever you, Square.

:0)

:0)

[squarebear]

Thanks guys. I am over the moon right now. This is the highest recognition my work can get.

[Sparkles62]

Well done. It all sounds amazing. X

[wolf63]

Well done - whatever it is that you have done :-)

What is the way forward with the bot-things? I spoke to one of yours ages ago but do you see a use for them in the future ?

[giveup]

Congratulations,but what is chatbot.

[grasscarp]

Well done Squarebear. You deserve your award.

[squarebear]

To put this into perspective, have you heard of SIRI? It's an application for iPhones where you can talk to it and it replies back as though you were talking to a real person. Apple paid approx $270 million for this.

Someone unofficially tried SIRI in the same contest I was in and it came 14th where I am just one man doing this as a hobby and came 1st!

My wife says my head will soon be too big to fit through the door!

[flump1]

Congratulations , wow we have a celebrity here.

[grasscarp]

your wife has a point. Particularly when wearing headphones.

[squarebear]

Excellent question Wolf.

Imagine being able to talk to your TV and say, "What time is the news on?" or "Can you record Eastenders for me but put the football on?" and it replies back as a human would do and carries out your actions.

Or you could say to your toaster, "two slices , medium brown". "Wardrobe - get out my jeans and blue shirt" and it does so.

I also see a huge market in toys. Imagine having a teddy bear where you can actually talk to it and it talks back.

Child - "Hi Teddy, what shall we do today?"
Teddy - "Shall we read a book?"

I genuinely think things like this are the future.

[askyourgran]

You have obviously got what it takes, and most likely be head-hunted by some large company before long. Do you need a PR or has RCDC applied? :)

[squarebear]

hehe! I'll bear you in mind. I would love to do this sort of thing full time, as I find it fascinating and have done since watching TV shows such as Knight Rider and Star Trek with talking machines that seem conscious.

[wolf63]

Captain Picard

"tea earl grey hot"

? :-)