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Summary Article Alan Turing
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Computing Machinery and Intelligence
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Computing Machinery and Intelligence, Mind 49 (236): 433-460. 6 september 2019Turing, A. (1950) Dounia Bennar
Can Machines Think?
Main question of Turing’s paper: Can machines think?
Form of the question is unhelpful.
Defining ‘machines’ and ‘think’ in common terms could be
dangerous: mistakenly think that the answer can be obtained
from some kind of statistical survey.
Replace the question: ‘The Imitation Game’.
Game of two rooms: 1st room with man A and woman B, 2 nd room
with interrogator C. C must determine which is the man and
which the woman through typewritten communication.
A tries to mislead C, while B tries to help C to the correct
identification.
Best strategy for B is to answer truthfully(Ex. ‘I am the woman,
don’t listen to him!’). Not sufficient enough, for the man can
make these as well.
Replace the question again: ‘What happens when a machine takes
the role of A?’
Influence on the decisions of the interrogator.
Testing Machine Intelligence
Clear line between physical and intellectual capacities of humans.
Separation of rooms and use of written communication.
‘Thinking machine’ doesn’t need to look, sound or feel like a
human for the purpose of testing intelligence.
Definition ‘Machine’(within the game):
Any kind of engineering technique is permitted.
Exclude natural born humans, biological creation and …..
Conclusion: Machine should be ‘digital computer’.
Digital Computers
Analogy of a human computer: human follows a set of fixed rules,
using an unlimited supply of paper for calculations.
Idea of a digital computer is old. Ex. Analytical Engine designs by
Charles Babbage until 1871. Mechanical design, but important idea.
Definition ‘Digital Computer’:
Has a store of information for calculations and rules the
computer must follow.
Numbers should be assigned to parts of the store: example
‘add the number stored in position 1 to that in 2 and put the
result back in the latter position’. Machine language: ‘125’, 5
being the reference to the rule.
Has an executive unit which carries out the individual
operations.
Has a control which ensures that instructions are performed in
accordance with the rules and in the correct order.
, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, Mind 49 (236): 433-460. 6 september 2019
Turing, A. (1950) Dounia Bennar
Normally: in the order they are stored in memory, unless the
instruction contains logic that asks the control to continue
from another instruction in another storage location.
Creation of rules is programming.
The ability to define logic is an important factor in mimicking the
ability of a human computer.
Prediction: before the year 2000, it would be possible to program
computers to play the game so, that an interrogator will not have
more than 70% chance of making the right identification after 5
minutes.
Contrary Views
Theological Objection
Argument: Thinking is a function of man’s immortal soul. God has
given an immortal soul to every man and woman, but not to any
other animal or to machines no animal or machine can think.
Response: Thinking machines do not discard God’s power of
creating souls any more than humans do so in the procreation of
children.
Head in the Sand Objection
Argument: The consequences of machines thinking would be too
dreadful. Let us hope and believe that they cannot do so.
Response: Argument would likely be quite strong in intellectual
people, since they want to feel superior over others in their thinking.
Mathematical Objection
Argument: Discrete-state machines have a limit, as shown by
results of mathematical logic. Example: Godel’s theorem (1931).
Some statements can be formulated in a way that they can neither
be proved nor disproved within any sufficiently powerful logical
system.
Response: There are limits to the power of a machine, but these
can also apply to human intellect. We feel superior when the
machine fails, forgetting our own human failures. The mathematical
argument does accept ‘The Imitation Game’ as a basis for
discussion, unlike the previous two arguments.
Argument from Consciousness
Argument: A machine cannot match a brain until it is conscious,
moved to act by it’s own thoughts and emotions.
Response: We can only know if one thinks by being that particular
someone. Logical view to hold, but difficult to prove. Example: “A
thinks but B does not” whilst B believes “B thinks but A does not.”
This could be an endless discussion. Turing accepts a certain
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