Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Loebner Prize
     
         An annual competition in {artificial
        intelligence} started by Dr. Hugh Gene Loebner
         of New York City in 1991.  A $100,000 prize
        is offered to the author of the first computer program to pass
        an unrestricted {Turing test}.  Annual competitions are held
        each year with a $2000 prize for the best program on a
        restricted {Turing test}.
     
        Sponsors of previous competitions include: {Apple Computer},
        {Computerland}, Crown Industries, GDE Systems, {IBM} Personal
        Computer Company's {Center for Natural Computing}, Greenwich
        Capital Markets, {Motorola}, the {National Science
        Foundation}, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and The Weingart
        Foundation.
     
        The 1995 and 1996 events were unrestricted Turing Tests,
        requiring computer entries to converse indefinitely with no
        topic restrictions.  So far, even the best programs give
        themselves away almost immediately, either by simple
        grammatical mistakes or by repetition.
     
        Complete transcripts and {IBM compatible} diskettes that play
        the 1991, 1992, and 1993 conversations in real-time are
        available for purchase from the Cambridge Center for
        Behavioral Studies (telephone: +1 (617) 491 9020, Fax: 1072).
        Sponsorship opportunities are available.
     
        {Home (http://info.acm.org/~loebner/loebner-prize.htmlx)}.
     
        Dr. Hugh G. Loebner 
        Prize Donor
        Telephone: +1 (201) 672 2277 (fax 7536).
     
        (1999-06-29)