Just how long until computers can actually reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and convey humor? They are your concerns which computer scientists focusing on automated business optimization programming and theory are wondering today. When does a machine, or computer system become aware, conscious of itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Point about this is philosophical, a case in point that some ask the question backwards, that is to say; are humans really thinking or merely responding to stimuli in a very predictable way?
Recently, there are some top scientists and computer engineers in the field suggesting that mankind as part of his search for a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved in the wrong direction, which a neural network, which would be considered a completely different configuration would be correct, something not too dissimilar from the way the Internet works where each point might do many calculations or differing types.
Then there's another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs a chance to forget to be able to work properly therefore it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (which has been observed incidentally), and also the capability to make a few mistakes.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is simply not thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself to artificially intelligent driven isn't really aware, it's not really thinking, and although it might pass the Turing Test; the opportunity to fool a person into believing it is a real person they may be talking too. And yet, I'd suggest a true thinking computer can consider the reverse, and realize whether or not it can be conversing with a real human or conversing with another computer.
Perhaps down the road all of the lines will end up so blurred concerning make the Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there has been entire chains of AI computers which talk to the other in Internet Forums. It appears like it is just a conversation between two different people, but the dialogue is very shallow, and no original thinking really, however some with the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough and something only should surf Facebook for 5-minutes to determine that.
Will computers ever be capable of think? Well, assuming you mean; the way in which humans think, the answer then is yes, eventually.
Currently, it seems like the Turing Test has been achieved, however i ask could be that the real test or threshold we should be considering. The first choice for thought that not merely will AI become aware, but it'll out think humans by combining good all possible worlds, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" as it were, coupled to computer devices will do precisely the same, and that my girlfriends is simply matter of time. So, please consider all this and think into it.