AIs are getting closer and closer to passing the Turing test. Note that every AI managed to fool at least one human judge.

Scientists at the University of Reading tested five machines to see if they could pass themselves off as humans in text-based conversations with people. The test was devised in 1950 by British Mathematician Alan Turing, who said that if a machine was indistinguishable from a human, then it was "thinking". One robot, Elbot, came close on Sunday by reaching 5% below the pass mark. One of the machines in the Turing Test No computer has passed the test by fooling 30% of its human interrogators No robot has ever passed the Turing Test, which requires the robot to fool 30% of its human interrogators. During the experiment, five artificial conversational entities (ACEs) competed in a series of five-minute long, unrestricted conversational tests.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Berkshire | Test explores if robots can think

The cool part here is that the technology that goes into programs like Elbot can be used in conjunction with voice recognition to make devices that understand vocal instruction and can even ask for clarification when they need it. Put that kind of tech into a car-based GPS, and you’re well on your way to KITT…