The Practical Turing Test: Will Thinking Machines Matter?
Dear friends of Wonderfest,
“I propose to consider the question ‘Can machines think?'”
With that sentence, mathematician Alan Turing began a now-legendary article entitled On Computing Machinery and Intelligence in a 1950 issue of the philosophy journal Mind.
The article presents an operational definition of artificial intelligence by means of what is now called the Turing Test: If a thoughtful human interrogator cannot distinguish a machine’s (i.e., a computer’s) answers from the answers of an intelligent human, then that machine should be deemed intelligent.
Wonderfest’s upcoming March event will examine perhaps a more important question than Turing’s seminal “Can Machines Think?”: What difference will it make to humans if machines can think?
On Saturday, March 23, Wonderfest presents UC Berkeley computer scientist Ken Goldberg to discuss artificial intelligence alongside the delightful Robot and Frank, one of 2012’s sleeper movie hits.The evening will begin with schmoozing in the Variety Theater Lounge. A special screening of Robot and Frank will follow in the intimate and super-comfy Variety Preview Room. And then Prof. Goldberg will share his thoughts and entertain questions about the current state of artificial intelligence.
Please join us for Will a Robot Be Your Friend?. Only 49 seats are available, so I recommend that you make your $20 ticket purchase right now. All proceeds will be shared equally by Wonderfest and by Variety Children’s Charity of Northern California. Any intelligent machine would heartily approve of this enlightening and enjoyable expense!
Wondrous regards,
Tucker Hiatt
Founding Executive Director