Transcendence: Measuring Intelligence

Transcendence: Measuring Intelligence

Marten Kaas

University of York, U.K.

Abstract

Among the many common criticisms of the Turing test, a valid criticism concerns its scope. Intelligence is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon that will require testing using as many different formats as possible. The Turing test continues to be valuable as a source of evidence to support the inductive inference that a machine possesses a certain kind of intelligence and when interpreted as providing a behavioural test for a certain kind of intelligence. This paper raises the novel criticism that the Turing test represents an example of Goodhart’s Law operating in the field of artificial intelligence. As one measure towards the goal of creating genuinely intelligent machines, the Turing test must not be confused with the goal itself. Moreover, the Turing test ought to be augmented such that through its use additional evidence could be secured to support the strong inference that a machine, were it to pass the Turing Test, could think like a human.

About the Author

Marten Kaas is a philosopher working in the field of AI ethics, with a research focus on the ethics and societal trust in artificially intelligent and autonomous systems. He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from University College Cork in Cork, Ireland and is currently a Research Associate with the Assuring Autonomy International Programme at the University of York, UK. His current work is elucidating the concept of transparency in the context of artificially intelligent and autonomous systems, and in particular transparency’s connection to safety assurance and its impact on enabling or impairing ethical principles.

ORC iD 0000-0003-0963-1004

Published: 2023 – 06 – 01