The Resurrection of ELIZA
An American and British team of researchers has brought ELIZA, the very first chatbot, back to life using 60-year-old code. ELIZA, designed by Professor *Joseph Weizenbaum* at MIT, marked a turning point in the history of artificial intelligence. Thanks to a paper published on the *arXiv preprint server*, details about this research work are now publicly accessible.
Discovery of the Old Code
In 2021, while sorting through the archives at MIT, archivist *Myles Crowley* found printouts of ELIZA’s original code. This code, long thought to be lost, had been developed in the 1960s. At that time, the term “chatbot” was not yet in use. Weizenbaum had designed his program as an electronic therapist that reformulated users’ statements.
Functioning of the Chatbot
ELIZA operated as a response tool for queries. The user asked a simple question, and the system returned an answer followed by a new question, thereby mimicking a conversation with a human. This method allowed ELIZA to appear as an empathetic interlocutor, offering an illusion of understanding that captivated many users at the time.
Reanimating ELIZA’s Code
The researchers faced numerous challenges to get the code running on modern systems. First, they created a compatible *operating environment*, as the original code was designed for an outdated operating system. Several adjustments were necessary, including bug fixes and writing missing functions in the original code.
ELIZA’s Performance
By December 2024, the program was finally operational. ELIZA’s functioning, though limited compared to modern language models, exceeded the researchers’ expectations. They found that even with its flaws, interacting with ELIZA remained *elegant and playful*. A major bug caused the program to crash if the user entered numbers, but this limitation was retained for authenticity.
ELIZA’s Legacy in the History of Artificial Intelligence
As the first known chatbot, ELIZA represents a fundamental milestone in the development of artificial intelligence. Researchers suggest that this program should be considered a major element in the evolution of dialogue systems.
Access to Research and Documentation
For those wishing to deepen their knowledge on the subject, the research paper is available on *arXiv* regarding the reanimation of ELIZA. Experts are also sharing the resurrected code on a *collaborative development* platform to encourage others to take an interest in it.
For more information: github.com/rupertl/eliza-ctss.
Cited Article: Rupert Lane et al, ELIZA Reanimated on *arXiv*, DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2501.06707.
FAQ about the World’s First Chatbot, ELIZA
What is ELIZA?
ELIZA is considered the world’s first electronic chatbot, developed by Joseph Weizenbaum in the 1960s. It simulates conversations by imitating the interactions of a Rogerian therapist.
What is the main purpose of ELIZA?
The main purpose of ELIZA is to serve as a request and response tool, where users can ask questions and receive answers that mimic human conversation.
How did the researchers find the code for ELIZA?
The code for ELIZA was discovered thanks to an MIT archivist, Myles Crowley, who found printouts of the original code in a box of personal effects belonging to Joseph Weizenbaum.
What technologies were used to resurrect ELIZA?
The researchers had to create an appropriate operating environment, as the original ELIZA code was designed for an outdated operating system. They also cleaned up the code to make it work on modern computers.
Why is ELIZA considered historically significant?
ELIZA is regarded as a major artifact in the history of computing, as it represents one of the first examples of a chatbot and raises important questions about the interaction between humans and machines.
What were some of ELIZA’s limitations as a chatbot?
ELIZA had several limitations, including its ability to generate appropriate responses only from pre-programmed information. Additionally, it was prone to crashing when faced with inappropriate inputs, such as numbers.
Is ELIZA comparable to modern chatbots?
Though ELIZA was a groundbreaking advancement in its time, it is not comparable to modern chatbots, which use sophisticated language models and can understand and generate more complex responses.
What impact did ELIZA have on the development of current chatbots?
ELIZA paved the way for research in artificial intelligence and the creation of modern chatbots, thus influencing the development of interactive tools and AI-based assistance systems.
