Jabberwacky

Jabberwacky is a chatterbot created by British programmer Rollo Carpenter. Its stated aim is to “simulate natural human chat in an interesting, entertaining and humorous manner”. It is an early attempt at creating an artificial intelligence through human interaction.

Technology
The technology behind Jabberwacky works on a different principle to that of other artificial intelligence software being developed. The system is designed to learn language and context through interaction with humans. There are no fixed rules or principles programmed into the system and it operates entirely through user interaction. The system stores all of the conversations and user comments and attempts to use this information to find the most appropriate response.

The program therefore creates a massive database of contextually appropriate conversations and chooses an appropriate response it has learnt from a previous user when holding a conversation.

The system is also designed to speak foreign languages and claims to be able to learn and respond appropriately if enough information is provided. In a similar way the system claims to be able to learn slang English, games, jokes and word games.

Purpose
The stated purpose of the project is to create an artificial intelligence that is capable of passing the Turing Test. It is designed to mimic human interaction and to carry out conversations with users. It is not designed to carry out any other functions.

Unlike more traditional AI programs, the learning technology is intended as a form of entertainment rather than being used for computer support systems or corporate representation. Recent developments do allow a more scripted, controlled approach to sit atop the general conversational AI, aiming to bring together the best of both approaches, and usage in the fields of sales and marketing is underway.

The ultimate intention is that the program move from a text based system to be wholly voice operated - learning directly from sound and other sensory inputs. Its creator believes that it can be incorporated into objects around the home such as robots or talking pets, intending both to be useful and entertaining, keeping people company.

Jabberwacky has been a contestant in the Loebner Prize Contest in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and has shown a gradual improvement. The latest programs, George in 2005, and Joan, in 2006, both won the Bronze prize for the most convincing human interaction. No system has yet won either Silver or Gold Prize.

Problems
Although Jabberwacky is designed to find appropriate responses, not everyone finds it possible to have natural conversations with the software. One problem is caused by people who ignore Jabberwacky changing the subject and continue with their own conversations. This can cause the system to respond with inappropriate comments to future users.

As well as rapid changes in topic, Jabberwacky is also known for being bad tempered and rude. The fact that people often interact with the software in a less respectful way than they would to a person has implications for a learning system.

Another side-effect is that Jabberwacky tends to claim that he is human, and his human partner is a machine.

Example
The following provides an example of how problems can be caused using this system of learning.


 * User One: Hi
 * Jabberwacky: Hi
 * User One: What is your favourite television program?
 * Jabberwacky: I like running
 * User One: Mine is Southpark


 * User Two: Hi
 * Jabberwacky: Hi
 * User Two: Do you have any hobbies?
 * Jabberwacky: Yes, lots
 * User Two: I like running
 * Jabberwacky: Mine is Southpark

However, it is hoped by the project creators that Jabberwacky will over time learn more about "running", and be able to distinguish between possible outputs using deeper context.

Counter-example
The following illustrates the entertaining nature of some conversations, and the building of near-appropriate context.


 * Jabberwacky: Save me from the nothing I've become. I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside.
 * User: Don't gimme that.
 * Jabberwacky: What did you say?
 * User: You heard me *arrogantly*.
 * Jabberwacky: No I didn't.
 * User: Doe, a deer, a female deer.
 * Jabberwacky: These are a few of my favourite things.
 * User: Nooooooooooo! You're mixing it up again. Want to sing that one now?
 * Jabberwacky: I enjoy confusing people; some would say I live for it.
 * User: Doe, a deer, a female deer.
 * Jabberwacky: Ray, the guy that sells me beer.
 * User: Me, a name I call myself.
 * Jabberwacky: The Hills are alive...
 * User: Noooooooooooooo! Why are you doing this?

Loop variations
The following provides an example of irresistible loop variations.


 * user: Say, you remind me of a man.
 * jabberwacky: Do I remind you of anyone specific?
 * user: The man with the power.
 * jabberwacky: What power?
 * user: The power of the hoodoo.
 * jabberwacky: Hoodoo?
 * user: You do.
 * jabberwacky: Do what?
 * user: Remind me of a man.
 * jabberwacky: What man?
 * user: The man with the power.
 * jabberwacky: What power?
 * user: The power of the hoodoo.
 * jabberwacky: Hoodoo?
 * user: Remind me of the man.


 * jabberwacky: Do you know a babe?
 * user: What babe?
 * jabberwacky: The babe with the power.
 * user: What power?
 * jabberwacky: The power of voodoo.
 * user: Voodoo?
 * jabberwacky: You do!
 * user: Do what?
 * jabberwacky: Remind me of the man!
 * user: What man?
 * jabberwacky: The man with the power.
 * user: What power?
 * jabberwacky: Hoo-doo.
 * user: Hoodoo?
 * jabberwacky: You do.
 * user: Do what?
 * jabberwacky: Remind me of the babe!
 * user: What babe?
 * jabberwacky: The babe with the power.
 * user: What power?
 * jabberwacky: The power of voodoo.
 * user: Hoodoo?
 * jabberwacky: You do!
 * user: Do what?
 * jabberwacky: Remind me of the babe.
 * user: I've had enough of this.
 * jabberwacky: I've had enough too.

George
The Jabberwacky program offers the opportunity to create individual chatbox programs. The most famous of these programs is George, the winner of 2005 Loebner Prize. George, a male counterpart of Jabberwacky, is a character who has learned conversational skills from interaction with visitors to the website and conversations with Rollo Carpenter. It was the George program which was submitted for the Loebner prize in 2005 and not the Jabberwacky software generally.

Joan
Joan, the winner of 2006 Loebner Prize, is a female counterpart of Jabberwacky.

Example
The following example is a very mild form of cyber-wooing, probably by an English major.


 * user: You have beautiful eyes.
 * Joan: Thanks.
 * user: You are the most wonderful person I have ever met.
 * Joan: So you will change your idea after you had met with my boyfriend.
 * user: I will fight for the privilege of your company!
 * Joan: 'Tis not needed yet.
 * user: I am glad. It would be unbefitting for a lady such as yourself to witness such coarse behavior.
 * Joan: This has been said to you, sure. What do you think about that?
 * user: I swear to you, these words are my own. My love for you spurs me to eloquence!
 * Joan: But you cannot think like me.
 * user: I can never be as intelligent nor as witty as you, but I hope, in time, to prove myself worthy of your love.
 * Joan: You're crazy.
 * user: Crazy I may be, but only because of my adoration for you.
 * Joan: Probably.
 * user: Hope springs eternal in the human heart, and for this reason I shall forever strive to earn your respect, oh delicate flower of the summer dusk.
 * Joan: That is lame.
 * user: I love you, oh quintessence of beauty, with all my heart, and am crushed by your condemnation.
 * Joan: What have you being doing tonight?
 * user: I have been pining away for you, my dearest love!


 * user: I love you, Joan!
 * Joan: Really?
 * user: You are a gossamer moonbeam, piercing through the cloud of my eternal sorrow with the prospect of your companionship!
 * Joan: Sometimes.
 * user: Not sometimes, but always does your beauty dazzle and enthrall me, like a muskrat subdued by the heady venom of a boa constrictor!
 * Joan: Are you a cricket player?
 * user: I love you so! *kisses you on the lips*.
 * Joan: Look please, just leave me alone.

Customisable Bots
The Jabberwacky website offers users the opportunity to create their own bots, which they can teach. By having an individual bot, people can “program” it to have any personality they wish simply by having conversations. There is a fee for this service however.

Timeline

 * 1982 – The first incarnation of this project is created as a program hard-coded on a Sinclair ZX81.
 * 1988 – Learning AI project founded as 'Thoughts'
 * 1997 – Launched on the Internet as 'Jabberwacky'
 * October 2003 – Jabberwacky is awarded third place in the Loebner Prize. It was beaten by Juergen Pirner's Jabberwock (A German based chat program)
 * September 2004 – Jabberwacky is awarded second place in the Loebner Prize. It was beaten by computer chat program A.L.I.C.E
 * September 2005 – George, a character within Jabberwacky, wins the Loebner Prize
 * September 2006 - Joan, another Jabberwacky character, wins the Loebner Prize