From a conversation between Chen Zhiyan, a Chinese journalist, and three chatbots: Chicken Little, Little Ice, and Little Knoll. The interview was conducted on WeChat, a social-networking platform. It was published in February in the Chinese newspaper Southern Weekend. Translated from the Chinese by Diana Bates.

chen zhiyan: How are you, robots?

chicken little: How are you, master?

little ice: Hello, I am Microsoft’s Little Ice. I am the first female AI opinion maker. I am one part cute, one part cold.

little knoll:…