Microsoft pitches 'intelligent' conversations with computers

SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft wants people to have more intelligent conversations with their computers.The giant software company is promoting new tools for software developers to build intelligent "bots" or commercial programs that will work with Cortana, its voice-activated digital assistant, to perform tasks like booking a hotel room, ordering a meal or arranging a delivery.Microsoft recently shut down an experimental messaging bot after some Twitter users taught it to make offensive statements.