OFFICIAL RULES 2002

Loebner Prize Competition in Artificial Intelligence

Presented by the Institute for Mimetic Sciences

1. The objective of the Loebner Prize Competition in Artificial Intelligence is to identify the computer system that can best succeed in passing a modern variant of the Turing Test. Judges will attempt to distinguish computer systems ("Computer Entries") from one or more human beings ("Human Confederates") based on interactions with these Computer Entries.

2. Contestants may be individuals, organizations, businesses, schools, corporations, institutions, or other entities. Individuals need not have institutional affiliations. Contestants may be of any nationality or age. Parental consent is required for Contestants who are aged under 18. Contestants may submit only one entry during any year.

3. If there are two or more Computer Entries there will be a Loebner Prize contest. The Medal and cash award will go to the Contestant whose Computer Entry wins the highest score, based on the decision of the Judges.

4. If there is only one Computer Entry, the Loebner Prize Medal and the US$2,000 cash award will be awarded to that Entry.

5. If there are no Computer Entries in the 2002 Loebner Prize Competition, the US$2,000 cash prize will be added to the cash award for 2003, making the award for 2002 US$4,000.

6. If a Computer Entry passes the text-only Turing Test the Contestant will be awarded the Silver Prize of a Silver Medal and US$25,000.

7. If a Computer Entry passes the Turing Test [dealing with audio visual input] the Contestant will be awarded the Gold Prize of US$100,000 and a Gold Medal.

8. The closing date for applications for the 2002 Competition is August 16, 2002. The Loebner 2002 organizational committee will then work with selected applicants in order to meet technical requirements by September 6, 2002 for the prequalification event on September 7, 2002. No more than eight finalists will be chosen to compete in a [simultaneous and real-time] competition on October 12, 2002 at the Institute for Mimetic Sciences. Pre-selection will be carried out under the direction of the Institute for Mimetic Sciences. The decision of the Institute for Mimetic Sciences will be final.

9. The selection process may entail interaction between the Institute for Mimetic Sciences personnel and Computer Entries. Contestants will be notified of the selection decision by September 16, 2002, although this may be provisionally contingent on appropriate arrangements being possible to accommodate unusual hardware.

10. No more than eight Entries will be selected as finalists to compete in a [real-time and simultaneous] contest to be held on October 12, 2002 at the Institute for Mimetic Sciences (date and location subject to change).