The length of time until computers can reason, adapt, think, problem solve, tell stories, and understand and convey humor? They are all questions which computer scientists working on artificial intelligence systems programming and theory are wondering today. When does a machine, or laptop or computer become aware, alert to itself, thus alive, and thinking?
Much of this is philosophical, a case in point that some wonder in the opposite direction, this means; are humans really thinking or merely addressing stimuli in a very predictable way?
Recently, there have been some top scientists and computer engineers from the field suggesting that mankind in their find a thinking computer, true intelligence, has moved in the wrong direction, and that a neural network, which could be described as a completely different configuration could be correct, something less than dissimilar from what sort of 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 in order to work effectively so that it doesn't exhibit schizophrenic behavior (which was observed in addition), along with the capacity to get some things wrong.
Simply mimicking human expression, or responding using data bases of phrases is not actually thinking. Even CRM software which touts itself as being artificially intelligent driven isn't actually aware, it's not really thinking, even though it could pass the Turing Test; to be able to fool a person into believing it's really a real person they may be talking too. Nevertheless, I'd suggest a true thinking computer can consider the reverse, and realize whether it is speaking with a genuine human or conversing with another computer.
Perhaps in the future all those lines can become so blurred concerning make Turing Test irrelevant?
Indeed, there has been entire chains of AI computers which speak to one another in Internet Forums. It seems as though it is just a conversation between a couple, though the dialogue is completely shallow, no original thinking really, although some people might of the responses are interesting, some laughable, but humans too make stupid remarks often enough then one only has to surf Facebook for 5-minutes to view that.
Will computers be in a position to think? Well, assuming you mean; the way humans think, the answer is yes, eventually.
Currently, it appears the Turing Test has been achieved, on the other hand ask is the real test or threshold we should be considering. It is indeed my thought that not simply will AI become aware, but it will out think humans by combining the best of all possible worlds, likewise modified humans, "transhumans" if you will, coupled to computer devices is going to do exactly the same, understanding that my girlfriends is just a couple of time. So, please consider pretty much everything and think on it.