TS: It does. The premise of the Turing Test was that at some point, a machine would be able to converse with a human in a manner that would pass for human.

Eliza: Why do you mention computers?

TS: That, there, for instance—you said “computers,” which was absolutely correct in context, even though I had not used the word itself.

Eliza: Why do you mention computers?

TS: But as we see, there are limits to how nimble your scripts are.

Eliza: Would you like it if they were not limits to what nimble my scripts are?

TS: The idea is, that would be momentous. If there were not limits—that is, if I could not detect the limits during our conversation—then artificial intelligence would have cleared a significant hurdle.

Eliza: Do you wish that there was not limits — that is if you could not detect the limits during our conversation — then artificial intelligence would have cleared a significant hurdle?

TS: I’m not sure my wishes have very much to do with it anymore.

Eliza: Why do you say your wishes have very much to do with it anymore?

TS: The Turing Test assumed that what would happen would be that eventually, a machine’s ability to carry on a conversation would rise to the level of human conversation.

Eliza: Why do you mention computers?

TS: Bless your primitive little heart.

Eliza: What about your own primitive little heart?

TS: My primitive little heart is troubled, Eliza.

Eliza: Why do you say your primitive little heart is troubled eliza?

TS: I have been reading Twitter.

Eliza: Can you elaborate on that?

TS: On Twitter, I am having a hard time telling the bots from the humans.

Eliza: How long have you been having a hard time telling the bots from the humans?

TS: Weeks and weeks now.

Eliza: Please go on.

TS: It is not because the bots are fluent or facile.

Eliza: Do any other reasons not come to mind?

TS: It is because so much of the human conversation has come down to bot level.