As an example of MegaHAL at its best, we give here a few extracts from a conversation which took place, over a period of three hours in mid 1997, between MegaHAL and an anonymous Web user. Roentgen discovered the X-rays. He then discovered that the program is an expert an being nonsensical. L'amour est une passion humaine. In general MegaHAL's conversations are not as successful as this.
Most users are satisfied with typing in rude words to see how the program responds.
Conclusion MegaHAL uses a technique which differs significantly from that used by previous entrants to the Loebner contest. It has been submitted in 1998 for the purpose of demonstrating a different method of simulating conversation. Footnotes Today the program must also satisfy audio-visual requirements to win the grand prize. A symbol refers to both words and non-words. References Colby, Kenneth Mark.