’Captain Cyborg’ Kevin Warwick: Man behind the controversial Turing Test claims

Jun 10, 2014 Source: telegraph.co.uk

Kevin Warwick, a professor of cybernetics at Reading University who implanted a microchip into his arm, is being scrutinised by scientist over his claims that a computer passed the "Turing Test"

A controversial scientist who has been known as “Captain Cyborg” since he implanted a chip into his nervous system is facing criticism over claims that a computer passed a “milestone” test for Artificial Intelligence.

Kevin Warwick, a professor of cybernetics at Reading University, called his recent experiment in which a computer fooled humans in the Turing Test an “important landmark”, but scientific opposition is gathering.

Prof Warwick made headlines when the university claimed the 65-year old Turing Test was passed for the first time by a “supercomputer” called Eugene Goostman at an event organised by Prof Warwick at the Royal Society in London.

Ten out of thirty human judges believed they were speaking to a real teenage boy during a five minute period, so the experiment was hailed as a victory.

However, other experts said the announcement trivialised “serious” AI (Artificial Intelligence) research, and fooled people into believing that the world of science fiction could soon become science fact.

Prof Warwick is considered a maverick among the science community. He first had a microchip implanted in his arm that triggered a greeting from computers each day when he arrived at work.

The scientist later implanted sensors and a microchip into the nerves in his arm, similar to an implant he also gave to his wife, so that when someone grasped her hand Prof Warwick was able to experience the same sensation in his.

He claimed it was a form of telepathy as it allowed his nerves to feel what she was feeling over the internet, but the work was controversial among other scientists as they doubted whether his experiments were much more than entertainment.

The latest announcement that the Turing Test has been passed for the very first time has been met with yet more scepticism.

Prof Warwick said: ’’In the field of Artificial Intelligence there is no more iconic and controversial milestone than the Turing Test.

“This milestone will go down in history as one of the most exciting.’’

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Read the full article at: telegraph.co.uk