Here is my article for July 2010

Many years ago,

I went to London to compete in an artificial intelligence contest to simulate conversation with a real person only it was just a computer program. But my trip to London was real. It started out when I told the crew of the airliner that I was afraid to fly. The captain came back to my seat to reassure me that the weather was clear all the way across the Atlantic – every boy's dream to meet the captain of the plane.

I hit it off with the flight attendant. By coincidence on the flight back she was also on my flight, and presented me with a magnum of champagne for being their “best passenger.” I could not accept it, however, as I am in recovery and don't drink.

My first day in London I took a double-Decker sightseeing tour in the misty rain, and also took a ferry ride on the Thames. On another day I visited the tower of London where a Yeoman of the Guard gave a guided tour of tall the grisly history of the ancient prison.

I was really impressed with the London “tube” which although complicated, almost always took me where I wanted to go. Armed with a transit

map, and a guide book I could find restaurants. I ate at a really nice restaurant near my bed and breakfast, and perused the antique shops at Portabello Street. I had a leisurely morning cup of coffee at a bar with a fireplace. This was the life!

At the Science Museum, I competed in the contest which consisted of my pitting my artificial intelligence software against a real person to simulate a conversation with a real person. Although a finalist, I came in last. I was really envious of the winner, who wore his medal around his neck.

On my fifth and last day of my trip I visited the British Museum and saw the Rosetta Stone, that was a milestone -no pun intended – where for the first time Egyptian hieroglyphics could be translated as the same text was repeated three times. I also saw a giant stone lion. By that time I was thoroughly exhausted and decided to splurge on a taxi ride back to my bed and breakfast. The driver went on and on about the royal family, a subject I guess was near and dear to the heart.

Was it real, or was it software? See you next month, - Peter N.