Alan Turing, artificial intelligence and "The Imitation Game"

Since the 2014 film "The Imitation Game" by director Morten Tyldum, many people have been familiar with the name Alan Turing. In his famous article "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" from 1950, he described the "Imitation Game", which is now known as the "Turing Test" and demonstrates his extensive contribution to the field of artificial intelligence. At the turn of the millennium, Time magazine listed Alan Turing as one of the 100 greatest minds of the 20th century.

The stay of Jack Copeland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, as a short-term fellow at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg c:o/re in Aachen provided the opportunity to organise a dialogue between academics and interested citizens about Alan Turing's life and work. In addition to intensifying collaboration between the cooperation partners, the aim was also to strengthen the Kolleg's visibility as an interdisciplinary research institution in the region.

In order to attract as broad an audience as possible, who are interested in science but not primarily academics, the event was held at an easily accessible, central location in the centre of Aachen: The OecherLab. As a real laboratory, the OecherLab sees itself as a thought leader, testing space and development centre all in one. Citizens, innovators, businesses, the city administration and politicians are given a creative space to exchange ideas.

After a brief welcome and introduction by Gabriele Gramelsberger, Director of the Käte Hamburger Kolleg c:o/re and Professor of Philosophy of Science and Technology at RWTH Aachen University, the audience was able to listen to Jack Copeland's presentation in a relaxed atmosphere. He not only addressed the development of Turing's thinking on intelligent machines, but also picked up on historical anecdotes such as the decryption of the German Enigma code and its significance for the end of the Second World War.

To keep the entertainment factor high, the lecture was followed by a fireside chat between Jack Copeland and Holger Hoos, Professor of Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University and leading researcher in the field of machine learning, about Turing and artificial intelligence. The audience had the opportunity to ask the two experts questions. The scientific input of the lecture was supplemented by exciting background information on Alan Turing's personal life, for example by discussing the theories surrounding the circumstances of his death.

The event proved to be a successful transfer measure, which was particularly evident in the OecherLab, which was filled to capacity, and the low-threshold dialogue between scientists and the audience over drinks following the fireside chat. The combination of event format and location as well as the selection and preparation of topics made it clear how the desired target groups can be successfully addressed. The aim of engaging in dialogue across disciplines and academic backgrounds and creating networking and synergies outside the university through cooperation was achieved.

Author: Jana Hambitzer