Computers, Information Technology, the Internet, Ethics, Society and Human Values

Philip Pecorino, Ph.D.

Queensborough Community College,  CUNY

Chapter 13 Artificial Intelligence and Being Human

Case-Presentation

THE TURING TEST

Alan Turing was the Philosopher and Mathematician who thought of the Test which is named after him. Turing held that computers would in time be programmed to acquire abilities rivaling human intelligence.  As part of his argument Turing put forward the idea of an 'imitation game', in which a human being and a computer would be interrogated under conditions where the interrogator would not know which was which, the communication being entirely by textual messages. Turing argued that if the interrogator could not distinguish them by questioning, then it would be unreasonable not to call the computer intelligent.  Turing's 'imitation game' is now usually called 'the Turing test' for intelligence. 

Prizes have been offered for the programs that best simulate human conversation and have AI.   http://www.loebner.net/Prizef/loebner-prize.html

You are invited to participate in  a simple form of the Turing Test by going to this site to interact with  some of the Chat Bots including award winning programs. 

INTERACT with any of these chat bots (List from  http://cogsci.ucsd.edu/~asaygin/tt/ttest.html#talktothem)

  • Jabberwock, Loebner winner- 2003
  • Jabberwacky, a bot with character
  • ELIZA, the oldest girl around.
  • JULIA was a participant in Loebner winner 1994.
  • ALICE is another chatty girl. Loebner winner 2001 2004 http://www.alicebot.org
  • MITBOLEL A customizable Java chatbot.
  • THOUGHT TREASURE  some "world knowledge" (an extensive concept hierarchy). This is an evolving system, latest version available for download.
  • MeBOT You need a Java compatible browser to talk to MeBot.
  • BRIAN, an 18 year old college student (3rd place in Loebner 1998)
  • MIMIC Help him learn talking, he's willing to learn.
  • Mr. MIND Try to convince him that you are not a computer.
  • ELOISA You want to chat in Italian? Visit her.

Alan Turing HOMEPAGE: Website http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/

Artificial Intelligence Organizations Directory  http://sigart.acm.org/societies/

THE TURING TEST IS NOT A TRICK: TURING INDISTINGUISHABILITY IS A SCIENTIFIC CRITERION  by Stevan Harnad

 Artificial Intelligence Information  This page contains a directory of AI organisations and associations around the world. It is maintained by Amruth N. Kumar (amruth@ramapo.edu).

History of Artificial Intelligence and much more!! http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/bbhist.html

Computing, Machinery, and Intelligence. Alan Turing's classic essay.

Turing Test Resources

Turing Test: 50 Years Later  by  Ayse Pinar Saygin, Ilyas Cicekli, Varol Akman in
Minds and Machines, 10 (4), November 2000 

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Web Surfer's Caveat: These are class notes, intended to comment on readings and amplify class discussion. They should be read as such. They are not intended for publication or general distribution. ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu                @copyright 2006 Philip A. Pecorino                       

Last updated 8-2006                                                              Return to Table of Contents