Answer 1

what PROGRAM?
there was a java program that was kinda like a neural network OS (well, its interface made it kinda look like an OS) that could simulate some crazy looking neural networks. I forget the name of it.

language is a different story. languages like lisp will be good for prototyping, and python for its extensive amount of machine learning libraries. low languages like C or C++ will be good for making the AI think fast, in the end though.