terratogen wrote:
] "Machines accurately infer user intent, remember experiences
] and allow users to call upon simulated experts
] ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A new type of "smart" machine that could
] fundamentally change how people interact with computers is on
] the not-too-distant horizon at the Department of Energy's
] Sandia National Laboratories.
]
] Over the past five years a team led by Sandia cognitive
] psychologist Chris Forsythe has been developing cognitive
] machines that accurately infer user intent, remember
] experiences with users and allow users to call upon simulated
] experts to help them analyze situations and make decisions."

Accurately inferring user intent is the key to providing a useful assistant. Microsoft's Clippy is real bad at that, which is why people turn off that feature in Office.