When considering Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey, we have surpassed most of our technological predictions. However, when it comes to talking and comprehending, computers are still far from humanlike capabilities. Where are the missing links? What are we doing wrong? On which problems do researchers around the world spend their time? What can we expect in the next few years? This talk, targeted to a heterogeneous audience, addresses these questions.