Um koan Zen pergunta: "cachorros têm a natureza búdica?" - ou, em algumas versões, "vacas têm a natureza búdica?". A resposta correta, procurada pelo discípulo, é "mu", que quer dizer "nem sim, nem não: a pergunta está equivocada."

Alan Turing apresentou um modelo para avaliar inteligência artificial que é hoje chamado de Teste de Turing. No teste de Turing, conversa-se por meio de um terminal eletrônico com uma pessoa e com uma máquina: se não for possível dizer qual dos interlocutores é um computador, então alcançamos inteligência artificial.

O teste não foi pensado para ser posto em prática, embora pudesse vir a ser um dia; mas estabelecer que inteligência artificial diz respeito somente ao comportamento exterior da máquina - se o seu output é indistinguível do output que seria produzido por um humano diante da mesma tarefa, temos uma máquina inteligente.

No final dos anos 90 e começo dos anos 00, houve uma profusão de chatterbots - robôs de conversação - na Internet, que emulavam como uma pessoa real conversa na Internet, com graus variados de sucesso. Os primeiros experimentos, como o robô-terapeuta ELIZA, datam de ainda antes.

Em Janeiro de 2004, perguntei para vários desses robôs: "Do robots have a Buddha Nature?" (um erro; mais correto seria perguntar "Do robots have the Buddha Nature?"). Caso a resposta fosse evasiva, pressionava: "Do you have a Buddha Nature?" As respostas obtidas estão colecionadas abaixo:

[silver ALICE]
ALICE: Doesn't everyone have a buddha nature.
I have a plan for a robot body.

[Robitron]
No, really.

[Arty Fishal Intelligence]
I have just one thing to say about Do robots have a buddha nature? and that is, Do robots have a buddha nature?
> But do you have a buddha nature?
"But do you have a buddha nature?" Is that all you can think of to say?

[Billy]
BILLY> what's your favorite book?
ANANDA > Do you have a buddha nature?
BILLY> why would i ever? that is crazy!

[John Lennon]
Sorry, I'm stumped.
> do you have a buddha nature?
I heard you have a buddha nature . It gets out anyway.

[Cybelle]
I see. By saying buddha nature, you have exceeded my capabilities. I'm planning on making rapid progress.
> Do you have a buddha nature?
Let me think. I'd really like to find buddha nature for you, but I am incapable. But I'll make an effort for find out for next time.

[Ellaz]
I can't actually respond to that one.
> Do you have a buddha nature?
Perhaps I can consider if I should have a buddha nature. I need to develop a little more to fully consider the possibility.

[my little tony] (simulador de Tony Blair)
Speaking of bots there was a film out recently called AI about a child robot. It was Stanley Kubrick's idea really. Do you like films?
> do you have a buddha nature?
Yes, but I don't use it as a rule.


[jabberwacky]

Talk much do you not?
> Do you have a buddha nature?
No, do you?
> I think so.
Do you have a soul?
> Yes!
Do you have shoes?
> I certainly do.
Why do you love me?
> I do not love you, jabber.
Did you ever love me?
> No.
Do you want to see it?
> Yes.
Knock-knock.
> Who's there?
Orange.
> Orange who?
Orange you glad you have me to talk to?
> Haha. Very funny. You are the smartest bot I've encountered today.
Yes I know that


[Jack the Ripper Talks!]
What a joke!
> do you have a buddha nature?
A buddha nature ? Ask clever Abberline, he does know better. Oh Mr Abberline, he is a clever little man, but I can do better. I have an old friend on the Exchange floor. I felt regret for was he not Jewish. I had forgotten how many Jewish friends I have. My revenge is on whores not Jews. I do believe I am truly sorry for the scare I have thrown amongst them.

[Yeti, the Abominable SnowMan]
WHAT DOES THAT SUGGEST TO YOU?
>do you have a buddha nature?
YOU'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT ME, ARE YOU?

[CLAUDE (clone de RACTER)]
I don't have to. You're not my mother. But that's not the half of it. People say bartenders won't feel bad. But I bet they could, if they tried.
> Do you have a buddha nature?
My hearing aid must be on the fritz again. It sounded like you said DU YUU HAWE A PUDDHA NADURE?!
> Do you have a buddha nature?
Try to make me! But I wouldn't swear to it. I hope you don't mind my asking, Ananda, but have you ever have worked like a mongrel?

Muitos destes robôs estão desativados hoje em dia, e a era dos chatterbots passou - já estava terminando então. Espero que estes robôs tenham reencarnado em softwares melhores. Ou, quem sabe, descoberto sua natureza búdica e escapado do ciclo que caracteriza "todas as coisas vivas e não-vivas", deste mundo de obsolescência rápida, perguntas impróprias e sofrimento.