Is Eliza Human?

The Program Eliza website gives the opportunity to learn how Eliza operates as a computerized "brain". A person first had to program Eliza to speak with words and sentences that make sense. On the computer, in order for a message from Eliza to come through, you have to type "print (' ')" with the single quotes around the designated phrase you want her to say. In order to reply, you have to use "insert" rather than print, and it works the same way. You can also add '+' signs with new phrases in order for Eliza to sound more personal. Although Eliza has the ability to respond with answers that make sense, it is easy for an actual human to pick out the fact that she is just a computer because she has no real 'personality' and 'character'. Of course, new phrases correctly placed in her 'brain' will increase her ability to communicate, but as of right now, she is still a computer just performing based on programmed directions.