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Back to the lesson libraryPERSPECTIVE · 12 MIN
M01.3 CONNECT THE MECHANISM

Symbols, games, and early language programs

A wobbly robot named Shakey plans its way from room to room, and a tiny chatbot convinces people it understands them. See what symbols can do, and where they run out.

LESSON OVERVIEW12 min lesson

Lesson overview

A wobbly robot named Shakey plans its way from room to room, and a tiny chatbot convinces people it understands them. See what symbols can do, and where they run out.

What you’ll explore

  • Explain how symbolic representations support rule-based planning and distinguish a bounded demonstration from broader understanding.
GO TO THE SOURCE

Original explanations, connected to the research.

SRI — Shakey the Robot, 1966–1972MIT CSAIL — early AI project demonstrationsWeizenbaum — ELIZA, a computer program for the study of natural language communication (1966)
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