AI summary

This paper critiques the Turing Test, arguing it has been a distraction to AI research since 1966. It highlights the test's limitations, including its all-or-nothing nature and focus on imitation, advocating for AI development that prioritizes useful applications over mimicking human intelligence.

Abstract

Alan Turing's 1950 paper, _Computing Machinery and Intelligence_ (Turing 1950) and the Turing test suggested in it are rightly seen as inspirational to the inception and development of AI. However, inspiration can soon become distraction in science, and it is not too early to begin to consider whether or not the Turing test is just such a distraction. What this chapter argues is that this is indeed the case with the Turing test and AI. AI has had an intimate relationship with the Turing test throughout its brief history. The view of this relationship, presented in this paper is that it has developed more or less as follows: 1950 - 1966: A source of inspiration to all concerned with AI. 1966 - 1973: A distraction from some more promising avenues of AI research. 1973 - 1990: By now a source of distraction mainly to philosophers, rather than AI workers. 1990: Consigned to history.