How Machines Learned To Chat

Chatbots have evolved from simple call-and-response programs to sophisticated AI-driven engines that can increasingly perform human-like tasks. This evolution is similar to that of self-driving cars, which have advanced from Level 0 to Level 5. MIT computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum created the first chatbot, ELIZA, in 1966. ELIZA was programmed to communicate like a Rogerian psychotherapist, responding to user prompts with questions based on keywords. Rules-based bots cannot improve their performance over time without further coding.