Just how long until computers can reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and provide humor? They are all queries which computer scientists taking care of cognitive computing 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 ask the question in reverse, that is to say; are humans really thinking or merely answering stimuli in a really predictable way?
Recently, there were some top scientists and computer engineers inside the field suggesting that mankind in their find a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved inside the wrong direction, knowning that a neural network, which will certainly be a totally different configuration can be right, something much less dissimilar from the way the Internet works where each point might do many calculations or different kinds.
Then there is another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs the ability to forget as a way to be effective so that it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (that is observed by the way), as well as the power to make mistakes.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is simply not thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself being artificially intelligent driven is not actually aware, it's not really thinking, and even though it might pass the Turing Test; to be able to fool a person into believing it is a real person these are talking too. Yet, I'd advise a true thinking computer could consider the reverse, and realize whether or not it really is actually talking to a true human or speaking to another computer.
Perhaps in the foreseeable future all those lines will become so blurred regarding increase the risk for Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there have been entire chains of AI computers which talk with the other person in Internet Forums. It looks as though this is a conversation between a couple, nevertheless the dialogue is entirely shallow, no original thinking really, even though some with the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough and one only has to surf Facebook for 5-minutes to see that.
Will computers be capable to think? Well, assuming you mean; the way humans think, the answer is yes, eventually.
Currently, it appears the Turing Test has become achieved, however ask is the real test or threshold you should be considering. The first choice for belief that not only can AI become aware, but it will out think humans by combining the very best of both worlds, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" if you will, coupled to computer devices is going to do the identical, knowning that my friends is simply a a few time. So, please consider this all and think on it.