8.6.0.14

Reading 2: Can machines think?

This assignment is due on Sunday, September 4 at 11:59pm. Don’t bullshit.

Because there is no class on Labor Day, this reading is required only for H211 students.

Exercise 1. Read Computing machinery and intelligence by Turing.
  • When you follow the link above with your browser, you should see Turing’s article, as well as a button “<” in the upper-right corner. Use the “<” button to expand the annotation sidebar.

  • You may need to log in to Hypothesis, using the account you created in Reading 1: Who can define the bigger number?.

  • **Pay attention to this next step**. This is a common mistake that results in many zeros on the assignment. After logging in, you are not done. You still have to expand the drop-down menu “Public” in the top right sidebar, make sure it says “my groups”, and change it to our course group “211”. You belong to this group because you used the invite link in Reading 1: Who can define the bigger number?. If you don’t post to this group, then other students won’t see your annotations, and you won’t get credit.

Exercise 2. Find two places in the article where you were confused, uncertain, or curious. Carefully select exactly the relevant passages, and Annotate them with your questions.
  • Make your question clear, descriptive, and specific.

  • Don’t be too brief, terse, or vague. Don’t just say “What’s this” or “I don’t understand”.

  • Don’t just summarize.

Exercise 3. Once you have added your questions, respond to someone else.