Just how long until computers can reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and provide humor? These are generally your concerns which computer scientists implementing artificial intelligence systems programming and theory are wondering today. When will a machine, or computer become aware, aware of itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Much of this is philosophical, because of this that some wonder in the opposite direction, that is to say; are humans really thinking or merely answering stimuli really predictable way?
Recently, there are some top scientists and computer engineers inside the field suggesting that mankind in their look for a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved within the wrong direction, and that a neural network, which will be a totally different configuration could be more appropriate, something not too dissimilar from how the 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 as a way to be effective therefore it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (which was observed incidentally), plus the power to get some things wrong.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is simply not thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself as being artificially intelligent driven isn't really aware, it isn't really thinking, and although it may pass the Turing Test; the ability to fool a human into believing it's a real person these are talking too. Nevertheless, I'd advise a true thinking computer can think about the reverse, and realize whether it really is speaking with an actual human or speaking with another computer.
Perhaps in the foreseeable future all of the lines will end up so blurred as to result in the Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there have been entire chains of AI computers which talk to the other in Internet Forums. It's like this is a conversation between a couple, however the dialogue is very shallow, with no original thinking really, although some of the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough and one only must surf Facebook for 5-minutes to see that.
Will computers ever be able to think? Well, assuming you mean; the best way humans think, the solution is yes, eventually.
Currently, it appears the Turing Test may be achieved, however ask could be that the real test or threshold you should be considering. It's my thought not simply will AI become aware, however it will out think humans by combining the best of all possible, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" for a moment, coupled to computer devices will do precisely the same, understanding that my friends is simply couple of time. So, please consider this all and think onto it.