Computer tricks humans into believing it’s a 13-year old boy
An artificial intelligence programme has passed a key plank of the venerable Turing Test, after duping 10 out of 30 judges ranged against it in a blind trial into believing that it was a 13-year old Ukrainian boy called Eugene.
The sneaky software was coded to imitate a flesh and blood child of the same age by delighting in rude remarks and despite dodging many of the questions posed to it managed to come off as more human than the actual humans it was up against.
Other tricks up Eugene’s silicon sleeves included deliberate spelling errors, changing the subject if in doubt and prolific use of emoticons during each five minute interrogation.
Worryingly for humans the reverse of the Turing Test also appears true with many flesh and blood participants being mistaken by the jurors for machines owing to their robotic responses.
The experiment took place last summer at the Royal Society but transcripts of the conversation are only being published for the first time later this week.
Amongst the interactions was a conversation between Eugene and an actress/writer tasked with sizing him up, to which Eugene remarked: “Well, I’ll read something of your books, if they ain’t too tedious (which is highly possible).”
Too which his interlocutor responded: “‘Aren’t too tedious!’ A bit rude of you.” Prompting Eugene to remark: “Calm down, please.”