How much time until computers can in fact reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and convey humor? They're all questions which computer scientists taking care of Artificial Intelligence BI programming and theory are thinking about today. When will a machine, or computer become aware, alert to itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Much of this is philosophical, so much in fact that some ask the question in reverse, that is to say; are humans really thinking or merely answering stimuli in an exceedingly predictable way?
Recently, there has been some top scientists and computer engineers within the field suggesting that mankind in their search for a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved within the wrong direction, knowning that a neural network, which would be described as a very different configuration will be correct, something not very dissimilar from the way the Internet works where each point might do many calculations or differing types.
As there are another group insisting that true artificial intelligence needs the opportunity to forget in order to work effectively therefore it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (that has been observed by the way), along with the power to get some things wrong.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases isn't thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself being artificially intelligent driven isn't actually aware, it isn't really thinking, and although it might pass the Turing Test; the ability to fool a human into believing it is a real person they're talking too. And yet, I'd advise a true thinking computer could possibly consider the reverse, and realize whether or not it can be talking to a true human or speaking with another computer.
Perhaps in the foreseeable future dozens of lines will end up so blurred about increase the risk for Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there were entire chains of AI computers which talk to the other in Internet Forums. It appears just as if it is a conversation between two people, but the dialogue is entirely shallow, no original thinking really, although some from the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough then one only should surf Facebook for 5-minutes to find out that.
Will computers ever be capable of think? Well, assuming you mean; the best way humans think, the solution is yes, eventually.
Currently, it seems the Turing Test has been achieved, on the other hand ask would be that the real test or threshold we should be considering. It's my thought that not only will AI become aware, but it will out think humans by combining the best of all possible, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" as it were, coupled to computer devices can do precisely the same, knowning that my pals is simply few time. So, please consider this all and think on it.