Alan Turing Quotes

It is possible to invent a single machine which can be used to compute any computable sequence.

I propose to consider the question, 'Can machines think?

Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine.

[...] Ritardo ce ne sarà per forza, a causa di intoppi praticamente inevitabili, perché fino a un certo punto è meglio lasciare che ci siano intoppi piuttosto che spendere tempo sul progetto per essere sicuri che non ce ne siano (chissà quanti anni occorrerebbero per questa strada).

We like to believe that Man is in some subtle way superior to the rest of creation. It is best if he can be shown to be necessarily superior, for then there is no danger of him losing his commanding position.

We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.

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.

[T]he m-configuration may be changed.

Machines take me by surprise with great frequency.

La opinión tan generalizada de que los científicos proceden siempre de un hecho bien demostrado a otro hecho bien demostrado, y nunca se dejan influir por una conjetura no probada, es bastante errónea. A condición de que quede bien claro qué son hechos probados y qué son conjeturas, no existe ningún peligro. Las conjeturas son de suma importancia, porque sugieren posibles vías de investigación.

It is possible to invent a single machine which can be used to compute any computable sequence. If this machine <math>\mathcal{U}</math> is supplied with a tape on the beginning of which is written the S.D of some computing machine <math>\mathcal{M}</math>, then <math>\mathcal{U}</math> will compute the same sequence as <math>\mathcal{M}</math>.

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

I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.

Pidän ihmistä vaaleanpunaisena aistidatan kokoelmana.

A man provided with paper, pencil, and rubber, and subject to strict discipline, is in effect a universal machine.