AI evaluation · 1950 · Alan M. Turing
Computing Machinery and Intelligence
Replace the undefined question “Can machines think?” with an observable imitation game and analyze objections as empirical, logical, or definitional claims.
The central move
Replace the undefined question “Can machines think?” with an observable imitation game and analyze objections as empirical, logical, or definitional claims.
Why it had to exist
Claims about machine intelligence were trapped in arguments over the meaning of thought. Turing sought a question whose procedure and observations could be discussed without first solving consciousness.
Where it leads
Operational evaluation → behavioral benchmarks → human studies → today’s distinction between capability, reliability, and sentience.