Turing’s imitation game

Alan Turing proposes a test: if, during a written conversation, you cannot tell whether you are speaking to a person or a machine, should the machine count as intelligent?

Why it is in the museum

Here the basic questions of modern AI take shape: how can thought be described, how can a machine learn, and what does it mean for a machine to hold a convincing conversation?

What supports this exhibit

Primary scientific and philosophical paper

The formulation of the imitation game as a practical way to discuss machine intelligence.

Main source: Turing, A. M. (1950), “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”, Mind 59(236).

Open the source

What to keep in mind: Primary source.

Ask the exhibit

This small guide uses only the information documented on this exhibit page. If your question goes beyond that evidence, it will say so instead of inventing an answer.

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