from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Loebner Prize
<artificial intelligence> An annual competition in {artificial
intelligence} started by Dr. {Hugh Loebner} of New York City
in 1991. A $100,000 prize is offered to the author of the
first computer program to pass an unrestricted {Turing test}.
Annual competitions are held each year with a $2000 prize for
the best program on a restricted {Turing test}.
Sponsors of previous competitions include: {Apple Computer},
{Computerland}, Crown Industries, GDE Systems, {IBM} Personal
Computer Company's {Center for Natural Computing}, Greenwich
Capital Markets, {Motorola}, the {National Science
Foundation}, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and The Weingart
Foundation.
The 1995 and 1996 events were unrestricted Turing Tests,
requiring computer entries to converse indefinitely with no
topic restrictions. So far, even the best programs give
themselves away almost immediately, either by simple
grammatical mistakes or by repetition.
Complete transcripts and {IBM compatible} diskettes that play
the 1991, 1992, and 1993 conversations in real-time are
available for purchase from the Cambridge Center for
Behavioral Studies (telephone: +1 (617) 491 9020, Fax: 1072).
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Loebner Prize Home (http://loebner.net/).
(2003-11-30)