The more sophisticated programs can also overcome another typical chatbot mistake: a tendency toward passivity. "With the best machines, you get the sense the machine is actually controlling the conversation—directing it while the interrogator is going along with it," Warwick says. "With the less good bots, the interrogator is in control of the questions that are being fired, and is usually getting stubbly answers." Here's an example of Eugene Goostman's strategic questioning:
Judge: mornin' boss, how's tricks?
Eugene: Ummm… Frankly, I didn't get your question :-(
Judge: no probs; I was just asking how you're doing
Eugene: …Could you tell me what are you? I mean your profession.
Judge: I'm a user experience consultant
Judge: How about you?
Eugene: By the way, I still don't know your specialty—or, possibly, I've missed it?
Judge: I work in IT
Eugene: You know, my life is not very interesting—home-school-street-home-school-street…. I know you are supposed to trick me.
Eugene: Where do you came from, by the way? Could you tell me about the place where you live?
One of the best strategies in Warwick's book is to ask situational questions—the weather this morning, the parking situation on the way to work, the color of the respondent's chair. "A major pickup point was topical issues," Warwick says. Here's an example from a conversation with Eugene:
Judge: How about the weather today?
Judge: rainy?
Eugene: The weather is always as bad as you think it is. I do believe that the world just a mare reflection of our thoughts…
Eugene: It seems to be rainy here, I guess. Could you buy me an umbrella?
Judge: today is sunny?
Eugene: Do you like the current weather?
Judge: yes
Judge: it is rainy now!!
Judge: do you think so?
Eugene: You are quite a positive person, I'd say. Could you tell me about your job, by the way?
