[somebody78978]

> the name was picked for the movie because the letters are shifted by one from "IBM."

Actually, the IBM/HAL thing is just a coincidence, according to both Kubrick and Clarke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000#Origin_of_name

[jvanderbot]

Exactly what you would say if you picked it to represent IBM and their evil technology.

[extra88]

Not going to let facts get in the way of a good story. :)