Science: Artificially intelligent machines that can argue back with humans are 'just years away'

It's a standard scenario across the world - the computer crashes and we scream exactly what we think at the flickering screen.
But we may soon have to learn to bite our tongue - or risk the wrath of being shouted at by the machine we've just cursed.
This is because scientists are building a voice-activated device that can interact with people in a 'natural and intelligent way'.
Artificial intelligence will help it become familiar with a user's voice, with the ultimate goal that it can understand, speak and behave like a human.

Artificial intelligence: It may be a while until a fully fledged thinking robot is developed, but scientists are working on voice-activated technology which will allow machines to talk to its users

The five-year, £6.2million project is still in its infancy but researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Sheffield believe the technology will have many benefits.
It could improve voice-activated computers, develop web search engines for audio clips, and create voice-controlled devices for the home.
The latter could help older people stay independent for longer.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011205/Coming-soon-The-artificially-intelligent-machines-argue-back.html#ixzz1RDW4Eyhv