University of Wales Institute, Cardiff - Computer gets big ideas in Welsh

A computer that "thinks" in Welsh has been created by scientists at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. A computer running the Konrad software, developed by Derek J. Smith, a lecturer in UWIC's School of Health Sciences, was able to respond in Welsh to a question asked of it in English. Given the input "Tell me about yourself", the machine replied: "Konrad y Peiriant ydw i, beth a hoffech chi ei wybod, or roughly, "I'm Konrad the Mechanical, what would you like to know?" Mr Smith said: "The Konrad database is nowhere near as complex as it will eventually need to be, and the task for the coming months is to increase the system's language skills until they start to display the sort of self-directing qualities that characterise human cognition."