How long until computers can in fact reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and convey humor? They are all questions which computer scientists implementing artificial intelligence systems programming and theory are wondering today. When will a machine, or laptop or computer become aware, conscious of itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Point about this is philosophical, because of this that some ask the question backwards, this means; are humans really thinking or merely giving an answer to stimuli in a really predictable way?
Recently, there has been some top scientists and computer engineers inside the field suggesting that mankind in his search for a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved in the wrong direction, understanding that a neural network, which may be considered a different configuration would be correct, something much less dissimilar from how a Internet works where each point might do many calculations or different kinds.
Then there's another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs the opportunity to forget so that you can work correctly so that it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (which has been observed incidentally), plus the capacity to make some mistakes.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is not really thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself being artificially intelligent driven is not really aware, it's not really thinking, even though it may pass the Turing Test; a chance to fool a person's into believing it is a real person these are talking too. Nevertheless, I'd suggest a true thinking computer could possibly think about the reverse, and realize whether it really is actually talking to a genuine human or speaking with another computer.
Perhaps in the future all of the lines can be so blurred as to increase the risk for Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there have been entire chains of AI computers which speak with the other person in Internet Forums. It seems as though it is just a conversation between a couple, nevertheless the dialogue is completely shallow, with no original thinking really, even though some of the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough then one only needs to surf Facebook for 5-minutes to find out that.
Will computers be capable of think? Well, assuming you mean; the way humans think, the reply is yes, eventually.
Currently, it seems like the Turing Test has become achieved, however i ask would be that the real test or threshold we should be considering. It is my thought not only will AI become aware, however it will out think humans by combining the best of all possible worlds, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" if you will, coupled to computer devices will perform precisely the same, and that my girlfriends is just a matter of time. So, please consider pretty much everything and think about it.