this thing obviously had to be designed to answer those specific questions, i mean i still wouldn't consider it a thinking computer unless of course it can learn instead of being updated... i doubt this thing would have personality, it was probably based on a real human being...edit, it most def was
but that would scare me. irobot/eagle eye will happen -_-
Check out this Web 2.0 approach to chatbots: http/chatbotgame.com.
Just as Deep Blue brute-forced it in chess with speed, the idea behind the Chatbot Game is to brute-force it with a huge number of user-submitted Google-like chat rules.
As to the usefulness - that will come all to quickly. Consider how many people spend time in "chat rooms" Just text based responses flying around. Thats one possibility.