Kevin Warwick

Cyborgs, Robots with Brains and the Turing test

Kevin Warwick, Coventry University

In this presentation a practical look is taken at how the use of implant and electrode technology can be employed to create biological brains for robots, to enable human enhancement by creating Cyborgs and to diminish the effects of certain neural illnesses. In all cases the end result is to increase the range of abilities of the recipients. An indication is given of a number of areas in which such technology has already had a profound effect, a key element being the need for a clear interface linking a biological brain directly with computer technology.

The emphasis is placed on experimental scientific studies that have been and are being undertaken and reported on. The area of focus is notably the need for a biological/technological connection, where a link is made directly with the cerebral cortex and/or nervous system. The presentation will consider the future in which robots have biological, or part-biological, brains and in which neural implants link the human nervous system bi-directionally with technology and the internet.

In the presentation we also take a look at the practical instantiation of the Turing test in which machines pretend that they are human. Actual transcripts will be presentation and the audience will have a chance to try for themselves and see if they can tell the difference between humans and machines purely from conversations.