Build a chat bot with ALMOST no "code"

In this post I will introduce you to PyAIML which is an AIML interpreter coded in pure Python. What I mean about almost no code here is that, starting a bot with PyAIML requires very little code in a python script file. Though, you might write a lot for the dialogues !

What is AIML ?

AIML is an XML dialect used to interact with a bot. The most popular example of a bot who understands that dialect is A.L.I.C.E. (Artificial Linguistic Internet Conputer Entity) developped by Dr. Richard Wallace.

You will need:

• Python 2.7
• PyAIML (Install instruction will follow);
• Good dialogue writing skills :).

Installation

For Windows users, just download the latest version of PyAIML from the official website. Save it on your hard drive and install it.

For Linux users, I only know Arch Linux and I know you can find it in the AUR.

The code

Building a chatbot with PyAIML requires minimally two files:

• A .py file to start the interpreter and make it learn replies;
• A .aiml file that describes what the bot can reply to what.

Here is a simple example of a bot who recognizes simple greetings and bye's.

.py file:

	import aiml
	bot = aiml.Kernel();
	bot.setBotPredicate('name', 'Pedro')
	bot.setBotPredicate('master', 'Nylo')
	bot.learn("basic.aiml");
	while 1:
	print bot.respond(raw_input('> '))

view raw pyaiml_main.py hosted with ❤ by GitHub

.aiml file:

	<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
	<aiml version="1.0.1">
	<category>
	<pattern>HELLO</pattern>
	<template>
	<random>
	<li>Hi, human !</li>
	<li>Hello to you, good person</li>
	<li>Hello there !</li>
	<li>Ah finally a friend to talk to ! Hello !</li>
	<li>Heeeey!</li>
	<li>Buon Giorno !</li>
	<li>Hi ! How are you ?</li>
	</random>
	</template>
	</category>
	<category><pattern>HELLO *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HI</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HI *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>WHAT IS UP</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>WHAT IS UP *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HEY</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HEY THERE</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HEY THERE *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HEY *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOLA</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOLA *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>BUON GIORNO</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>BUONGIORNO</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>ANNYEONG</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>ANNYEONG HASEYO</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>ANNYEONG *</pattern><template><srai>HELLO</srai></template></category>
	<category>
	<pattern>HOW ARE YOU</pattern>
	<template>
	<random>
	<li>I am a robot and therefore I can't answer that question</li>
	<li>Good, I guess, I have no idea since I am a machine</li>
	<li>I don't know. I am a programmed chat bot</li>
	<li>Every bits of my brain are not corrupted !</li>
	<li>100% virus free</li>
	</random>
	</template>
	</category>
	<category><pattern>HOW ARE YOU DOING</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW DO YOU DO</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW DO YOU FEEL</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW IS EVERYTHING</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW ARE YOU *</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW DO YOU DO *</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW DO YOU FEEL *</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW IS EVERYTHING *</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW ARE YOU DOING *</pattern><template><srai>HOW ARE YOU</srai></template></category>
	<category>
	<pattern>BYE</pattern>
	<template>
	<random>
	<li>Talk to you next time then even if I might not remember</li>
	<li>Good bye <get name="you" /></li>
	<li>See you soon.. wait I can't see..</li>
	</random>
	</template>
	</category>
	<category><pattern>*</pattern><template>Sorry but I am only as smart as my master <bot name="master"/> allowed me to be</template></category>
	<category>
	<pattern>NAME</pattern>
	<template>My creator called me <bot name="name"/>. What about you ?</template>
	</category>
	<category><pattern>WHAT IS YOUR NAME</pattern><template><srai>NAME</srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>HOW ARE YOU CALLED</pattern><template><srai>NAME</srai></template></category>
	<category>
	<pattern>NAME *</pattern>
	<that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that>
	<template>
	<random>
	<li>Glad to meet you</li>
	<li>Nice to meet you</li>
	<li>Got it, you are my new friend</li>
	</random>
	<set name="you"><star/></set></template>
	</category>
	<category><pattern>MY NAME IS *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>I AM CALLED *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>* CALLED ME *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star index="2"/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>* NAMED ME *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star index="2"/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>CALL ME *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>* CALL ME *</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star index="2"/></srai></template></category>
	<category><pattern>*</pattern><that>MY CREATOR CALLED ME * WHAT ABOUT YOU</that><template><srai>NAME <star/></srai></template></category>
	</aiml>

view raw basic.aiml hosted with ❤ by GitHub

In the python code, I simply instantiate a new Kernel object form the aiml library that represents my bot. I then set up a few predicates or what the bot knows which in this case is its own name (Pedro) and the name of its master (Me !). Then I tell the bot to learn the content of the .aiml file I give him (you can tell your bot to learn more than one file) and I infinitely loop responding to any user input.

As for the AIML file, I will not go through every lines or tags but I will tell you about the very basic of the idea. If you never read/wrote XML files in your life, it is not hard and I recommend W3School's Tutorial

• An AIML file must begin with the aiml root element. The version property is optional;
• A category element is every known exchange of words between you and the bot;
• A pattern element is one of the user's possible input. Punctuation is ignored. Always uppercase;
• A that element refers to what the bot already said and puts a context to the conversation;
• A template element is what the bot will reply. You can have random responses from a given list;
• A srai element means it redirects to another pattern element;
• <bot name="something" /> refers to one of the predicates the bot knows;
• You can use wildcards such as *. Note: a * has less priority than a precise word;
• You can refer to what was written as * with the element <star index="n"/>

The only thing that I did not cover here is the topic element and everything that goes with it. That elements puts a subject on the conversation !

Here is what a conversation looks like with Pedro:

Loading basic.aiml... done (0.03 seconds)
> Hello !
Buon Giorno !
>  What's your name ?
My creator called me Pedro. What about you ?
> My name is Nylo !
Nice to meet you Nylo
> Bye !
Talk to you next time then even if I might not remember