Eliza (computer program)

ELIZA is an early computer program developed in the 1960s that simulates conversation by using pattern matching and scripted responses. It was designed to mimic a Rogerian psychotherapist, often reflecting users’ statements as questions or reflections to encourage further dialogue. ELIZA doesn’t understand or think; instead, it recognizes keywords and applies pre-written rules to generate replies. This created the illusion of understanding, making interactions feel conversational. ELIZA demonstrated how simple algorithms could create engaging, human-like communication, laying foundational ideas for future natural language processing and chatbot development.