After reading this Slashdot post about two chatting bots, I got interested in the matter, so I decided to play around with these automated chatters. I installed a local IRC server, and off course installed an Eggdrop bot. Now these thing are fun, and there are many scripts out there to get some respons like :

darkcompn !country be
Zuul Country for .be is: Belgium -GB-
darkcompn !coke
* Zuul opens up a fresh can of coke and sets it in front of darkcompn

But their primary function is actually protecting irc channels from flooding and abuse when the operators are absent. Fun really begins with AI bots, and there is where Alice pops up. Alice (Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity) is an award-winning free natural language artificial intelligence chat robot. The software used to create A.L.I.C.E. is available as free ("open source") Alicebot and AIML software.

Try talking to A.L.I.C.E. just like a real person, but remember you are really chatting with a machine! A.L.I.C.E.'s Alicebot engine utilizes AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) to form responses to your questions and inputs.

darkcompn marvin, what's up ?
marvin I am chatting with clients on the internet.
darkcompn you like chatting ?
marvin Yes talking is my primary function.
darkcompn do you have a computer ?
marvin I live in a computer.
darkcompn that must be crowded
marvin Thanks for explaining crowded.
darkcompn no problem
marvin Should there be a problem?
darkcompn no
marvin I didn't think so either. Just a moment. Just a moment.
darkcompn what operating system do you run ?
marvin My primary server is Linux, but as a Java program I run on any OS.
darkcompn I'm fond of Unix
marvin A lot of people like that. What is not to like about UNIX?
darkcompn nothing ! Say, marvin: you use KDE or Gnome ?
marvin Say no to KDE or Gnome.
darkcompn you are using something like Window Maker or Fluxbox then ?
marvin I am using Telnet as a browser.

There are several Alice implementations, but I found J-Alice the most interesting, as it has an irc client built-in, so that it can join some irc channels. Alice comes with different AIML templates, so that you have the chance of modifying your bot to your wish (eg making it speak your language).