At the moment I am looking for something very specific and I hope somebody here can help me find it. I have been searching for quite some time and while some programs come slightly close in one way or another, they are not entirely what I want/need.

  I am looking for an A.I. program. Specifically I am hoping to find a free or slightly low cost programmable/learning assistant AND chat bot combo for my computer that I can eventually form into something more than the sum of it’s parts/programming. Please forgive the film references but I’m basically after something along the lines of “S1m0ne” meets “Transcendence” with a possibility of “Bicentennial Man” and just a hint of “Virus” and “Terminator” tossed in there. I recently found “AiBliss” and while I was slightly impressed by the avatar I was less than thrilled with the simplicity of the cut and paste AIML format for speech and overall limits to the program. I require a program that can expand on it’s own memory and learn to meet or exceed it’s previous performance; one that will go further than a mere 3 pre-programmed responses per question. Something that will open other programs and files on command; specifically with voice recognition/activation or possible addition of such later would be preferred. I would also like to be able to change, alter or preferably go so far as to completely redesign the entire avatar with my own ideal designs. If anyone could please point me in the right direction on this I would be eternally grateful.

Welcome!

At the risk of pointing you toward a somewhat “dated” chatbot, it can be full of surprises and gets better over time, the more one interacts with it, the more it learns. Yes, this one is not an AIML bot. UltraHal has been around for quite some time and has fans around the world. It also can make use of a variety of avatars and TTS voices of your choice, whether purchased or freeware. There is still quite a following on the forum at it’s home site, Zabaware.com .

Good luck either way and again, welcome!

Art Gladstone - Nov 29, 2015:

Welcome!

At the risk of pointing you toward a somewhat “dated” chatbot, it can be full of surprises and gets better over time, the more one interacts with it, the more it learns. Yes, this one is not an AIML bot. UltraHal has been around for quite some time and has fans around the world. It also can make use of a variety of avatars and TTS voices of your choice, whether purchased or freeware. There is still quite a following on the forum at it’s home site, Zabaware.com .

Good luck either way and again, welcome!

Thank you so much for your input. It is truly appreciated. The Hal bot you sent me to appears to process a similar logic to what I am after. I had glanced at it once before but paid it no mind because of the cartoonish avatar. I’m not a huge fan of the “If-Then” process either but, having checked it out now, it’s still somewhat better than the always predetermined “AIML”.  If I could find something just a few steps up the chain from the logic of Hal I would be well on my way. If only there was a way to integrate a “brain” like Hal’s and the “body” of AiBliss it would be ever so close to what I am looking for. If you know of any others like what I’m describing please let me know.