“The TuringTest, originally called the imitation game by Alan Turing in 1950, is a test of a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human.” ~ Wikipedia
I’m not sure that behavior equivalent to or indistinguishable from a human is something to be desired. For instance, as a gay man in 1952, Alan Turing, a brilliant scientist, was convicted of “gross indecency” and was chemically castrated for the high crime of loving another human being. He committed suicide in 1954.
Too often in human history, the grossly indecent claim moral superiority and enact horrors on other people in the name of decency. I do not desire my technology to emulate that trait. We’ve seen too many examples of this human behavior of late.
I’m not sure that we want our machines to think like we do. I doubt we want our computers to be as gullible and easily led as are we. Truly, I don’t want anything with artificial intelligence to operate out of fear or notions of supremacy or any of the other ugly agendas washing over our nation. I want my technology to open new worlds and point to infinite possibilities and not to close minds or revel in ethnocentric fantasies.
So, it came as some comfort to me when, the other day, the computerized female voice on our voice mail rejected us because we did not reveal ourselves to be human. I thought, with perhaps too much satisfaction, maybe I am making some progress as I journey through this life.
read Kerri’s blog post about BEING HUMAN
Filed under: Merely A Thought Monday, Perspective | Tagged: Alan Turing, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, human being, humanity, Kerri Sherwood, kerri sherwood itunes, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, The Turing Test |
The Direction of Intention 
Siri only graces me with her presence when something on the television approximates her name and she is within earshot. Likely because I never avail myself of her services anyway I assume she does it out of spite.
we have 3 phones and play the hysterical game of asking Siri a question – all three Siri voices respond with surprisingly different yet unison responses…human humor;-)