The Turing Test for Consciousness, Not Intelligence
July 31, 2026 DOI: 10.1201/9781003758389-16 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the Turing Test, reframed to detect artificial consciousness rather than intelligence, remains a vital tool. Proposes an extended version involving diverse expert panels to evaluate valenced feelings in machines, providing probabilistic, corroborative evidence rather than definitive proof. |
Abstract
This chapter explores the evolving relevance of the Turing Test on its 75th anniversary. While often dismissed as an inadequate measure of intelligence, the chapter argues that the test remains a crucial tool when reframed as a method for detecting artificial consciousness. By examining Alan Turing&s;s original emphasis on “thinking” over specific definitions of intelligence, the chapter distinguishes between intelligence – defined as goal-directed, adaptive behaviour – and consciousness, which centres on private, subjective experience. Readers will discover why the potential creation of “moral patients” through artificial consciousness necessitates robust testing to avoid unprecedented ethical failures. The chapter proposes a sophisticated, extended version of the Turing Test involving diverse panels of experts to evaluate whether a machine possesses valenced feelings. Although this probabilistic approach provides corroborative rather than definitive proof, it offers a vital framework for navigating the imminent challenges and mysteries of sentient machines.