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From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: net.ai
Subject: Eliza Passes Turing Test (again)
Message-ID: <59@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Aug-84 21:22:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: decvax.59
Posted: Wed Aug 29 21:22:02 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Aug-84 12:34:38 EDT
Organization: DEC UNIX Engineering Group
Lines: 27

Readers of net.ai might enjoy this extract from "Computing Across
America,"  Chapter 11: A High-tech Oasis in the Texas Sun, written by
Stephen K. Roberts, published originally in (and Copyright 1984 by)
Online Today, September 1984 (a CompuServ Publication).

			The Phantom SysOp

  (Austin SYSOP speaking)

	"Personally, I get a little tired of answering CHAT
	requests.  That's why I brought up Eliza."

	"You mean..."

	He twinkled with wry humor.  "You got it.  It's the
	perfect Turing test.  I have a second computer hooked 
	up to my board system.  When someone issues a CHAT 
	request, it says 'Hello?  Can I help you?' I changed 
	all the messages so it emulates a sysop instead of a 
	psychiatrist.  Some people never do catch on."

	I groaned.  "That's cruel!"

(Transcribed by my collegue, John Wasser.)

Martin Minow
decvax!minow