How long until computers can reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and provide humor? They're all queries which computer scientists focusing on cognitive computing programming and theory are wondering today. When does a machine, or computer system become aware, alert to itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Much of this is philosophical, a case in point that some ask the question in reverse, this means; are humans really thinking or merely answering stimuli in an exceedingly predictable way?
Recently, there were some top scientists and computer engineers within the field suggesting that mankind in the visit a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved inside the wrong direction, and that a neural network, which would be a different configuration could be more appropriate, something not very dissimilar from what sort of Internet works where each point might do many calculations or differing types.
Plus there is another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs to be able to forget as a way to work properly in order that it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (that has been observed mind you), plus the capability to make a few mistakes.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases isn't thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself as being artificially intelligent driven isn't actually aware, it is not really thinking, and although it may pass the Turing Test; a chance to fool a person into believing it is a real person these are talking too. And yet, I'd suggest a true thinking computer can think about the reverse, and realize regardless of whether it's speaking with a real human or actually talking to another computer.
Perhaps later on dozens of lines can become so blurred as to result in the Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there have been entire chains of AI computers which talk with the other person in Internet Forums. It looks just as if it is just a conversation between a couple, but the dialogue is very shallow, no original thinking really, however some with the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough the other only has to surf Facebook for 5-minutes to see that.
Will computers be capable to think? Well, assuming you mean; the way in which humans think, the solution is yes, eventually.
Currently, it seems the Turing Test has been achieved, however ask is that the real test or threshold we should be considering. It is my thought that not only will AI become aware, however it will out think humans by combining the very best of both worlds, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" if you'll, coupled to computer devices is going to do precisely the same, knowning that my buddies is only a matter of time. So, please consider all of this and think about it.