Press Releases

The Turing Test / 18th Loebner Prize for Artificial Intelligence 2008

Release Date : 08 October 2008

Will a machine be good enough to fool judges into thinking it is human?

On 12 October, six artificial conversational entities (ACE) will each compete in a series of five minute long, unrestricted conversation Turing Tests. The ACE will be attempting to pass themselves off as human to human judges. The test, which involves parallel-paired comparison, has to date never been passed by a machine. The University of Reading's cyberneticist, Professor Kevin Warwick is hosting the 18th Loebner Prize event, a platform for the Turing Test, and is optimistic that one or more of the entries may pass this, the 'strong version' of Turing's Test during the event.

Date: Sunday 12 October 2008

Time: Testing begins at 9am

Venue: Palmer Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH

If, during text-based conversation, a machine is indistinguishable from a human, then it could be said to be 'thinking' and, therefore, could be attributed with intelligence. Postulated in Computing, Machinery & Intelligence (1950), this was the view of 20th century British Mathematician, Alan Turing, who devised an imitation game known as the Turing Test.

In parallel, The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Simulation of Behaviour is holding a symposium on the Turing Test at the University of Reading, with a selection of world experts in AI who will offer a context and outline a special perspective on the Turing Test.

Interviews: Professor Kevin Warwick, University of Reading, is the organiser of this year's Loebner Prize. The developers, or representatives, of the six ACE will be present at the event along with the Prize sponsor, American scientist, Dr. Hugh Loebner, and the symposium speakers.

Media contacts: All media enquiries - the University of Reading Communications Office –Alex Brannen - 0118 378 7388 / 07834 006243 or Lucy Chappell – 0118 378 7391