Alan Turing

I do not wish to give the impression that I think there is no mystery about consciousness. There is, for instance, something of a paradox connected with any attempt to localize it.

I do not wish to give the impression that I think there is no mystery about consciousness. There is, for instance, something of a paradox connected with any attempt to localize it.

It seems probable that once the machine thinking method had started, it would not take long to outstrip our feeble powers… They would be able to converse with each other to sharpen their wits. At some stage therefore, we should have to expect the machines to take control.

I am not very impressed with theological arguments whatever they may be used to support. Such arguments have often been found unsatisfactory in the past. In the time of Galileo it was argued that the texts, 'And the sun stood still... and hasted not to go down about a whole day' (Joshua x. 13) and 'He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not move at any time' (Psalm cv. 5) were an adequate refutation of the Copernican theory.

I am not very impressed with theological arguments whatever they may be used to support. Such arguments have often been found unsatisfactory in the past. In the time of Galileo it was argued that the texts, 'And the sun stood still... and hasted not to go down about a whole day' (Joshua x. 13) and 'He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not move at any time' (Psalm cv. 5) were an adequate refutation of the Copernican theory.

No doubt I shall emerge from it all a different man, but quite who I've not found out.

No doubt I shall emerge from it all a different man, but quite who I've not found out.

No, I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I'm after is just a mediocre brain, something like the President of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Science is a differential equation. Religion is a boundary condition.

One day ladies will take their computers for walks in the park and tell each other, 'My little computer said such a funny thing this morning'.

One day ladies will take their computers for walks in the park and tell each other, 'My little computer said such a funny thing this morning'.

The original question, 'Can machines think?' I believe to be too meaningless to deserve discussion.

Machines take me by surprise with great frequency.

Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's? If this were then subjected to an appropriate course of education one would obtain the adult brain.

Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's? If this were then subjected to an appropriate course of education one would obtain the adult brain.

Unless in communicating with it one says exactly what one means, trouble is bound to result.

Unless in communicating with it one says exactly what one means, trouble is bound to result.

The works and customs of mankind do not seem to be very suitable material to which to apply scientific induction.

The works and customs of mankind do not seem to be very suitable material to which to apply scientific induction.

We are not interested in the fact that the brain has the consistency of cold porridge.