Your Pico-8 has something to say.

The power of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab (circa 1966) has been brought to the Pico-8. The software that once took on the Turing Test is now yours to command. Marvel as the illusion of a living computer breaks down within seconds!

ELIZA's creator, Joseph Weizenbaum, once wrote, "I had not realized ... that extremely short exposures to a relatively simple computer program could induce powerful delusional thinking in quite normal people." Maybe you'll be powerfully deluded as well!

Features of this release:

• An interesting archaelogical look at early AI
• User-scriptable! (see blog for info)
• Reproduces precisely a famous ELIZA conversation
• Not based on the simplified BASIC version; this is the real deal!

While this release implements the most famous ELIZA script called "DOCTOR," I have endeavored to make it simple to create your own script. With Pico-8's 2MiB of RAM and the light footprint of the engine itself, it is theoretically possible to create much more advanced chatbots than could have been achieved in 1966.

More information and downloads available on itch.io now.
https://christopherdrum.itch.io/eliza8

Full blog post on how the script works, so you can write your own is also posted.
https://christopherdrum.itch.io/eliza8/devlog/255329/customizing-eliza8-scripts

Oh wow, between PicoCalc & this, you are really taking me back, though I had the simplified BASIC version on my TRS-80 :).

@2bitchuck Yeah, I seem to be making software just for you and me. lol

This is actually epic ! Wow the memories from playing this on the Apple ][.

@ChristopherD you should post your cartridge here in Lexaloffle where it will definitely see more traffic.

In any case, you have my STAR.

@ChristopherD what font did you use for the cartridge title art?

@lolboi That's just good ole' Helvetica Neue (bold); a popular font back in the era when Eliza was originally developed.

@ChristopherD gives me a nostalgic vibe for some reason, thanks!