Just how long until computers can in fact reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and produce humor? They're your concerns which computer scientists focusing on artificial intelligence systems programming and theory are wondering today. When will a machine, or laptop or computer become aware, aware of itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Much of this is philosophical, so much so that some wonder backwards, this means; are humans really thinking or merely responding to stimuli really predictable way?
Recently, there were some top scientists and computer engineers in the field suggesting that mankind in his find a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved within the wrong direction, and that a neural network, which will be considered a very different configuration will be appropriate, something much less dissimilar from the way the Internet works where each point might do many calculations or different types.
Then there is another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs the opportunity to forget to be able to work properly so that it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (which has been observed in addition), as well as the capacity to make mistakes.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is not actually thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself to artificially intelligent driven isn't really aware, it isn't really thinking, even though it may pass the Turing Test; the opportunity to fool a person into believing it's actually a real person they are talking too. Yet, I'd suggest a true thinking computer would be able to look at the reverse, and realize if it's talking to a true human or speaking with another computer.
Perhaps down the road dozens of lines will become so blurred regarding make the Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there are entire chains of AI computers which talk with one another in Internet Forums. It appears as though it is just a conversation between two people, however the dialogue is entirely shallow, with out original thinking really, however some in the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough and one only needs to surf Facebook for 5-minutes to determine that.
Will computers ever be able to think? Well, assuming you mean; just how humans think, the answer then is yes, eventually.
Currently, it appears the Turing Test continues to be achieved, however ask is that the real test or threshold you should be considering. It's my belief that not only can AI become aware, however it will out think humans by combining good all possible, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" as it were, coupled to computer devices will do exactly the same, knowning that my buddies is only a matter of time. So, please consider all this and think on it.