Towards AI
Alan Turing defined a test (coined the Turing Test) by which to judge whether an artificial system was intelligent. The double-blind test involves participants communicating with at least two different unknown entities over terminal that masks their true identity. If most participants could not tell the difference between the natural and artificial entities then, Turing reasoned, we might deem the artificial one just as intelligent as the natural one.
A recent study at Purdue University tested psychological and biological reactions to Sony’s AIBO electronic dog. Based on the results it seems we’re not far off.
Full disclosure: My wife and I are the proud owners of a 1 year old AIBO. He’s due for a software upgrade next week.