Prototype system that learned how to perform tasks using a web browser by observing its user perform the task while they described what they were doing using natural language (like showing your mom how to do it). Could then perform those tasks on demand and interactively, in person or via email and text. Sponsored by DARPA as part of the CALO project (Conversational Agent That Learns and Organizes) that ultimately led to the development of Siri.

Joint work between the University of Rochester Computer Science Department and the Institute for Human-Machine Cognition. Ferguson: Core intelligent assistant behavior and extensive desktop and client-server infrastructure including UIs. Although primarily a desktop system, the PLOW UI could run entirely over the web in the days before jquery and such tools made that (relatively) easy.