The notion of conscious machines (computers) in the realm of artificial intelligence does not at all promise to be a realistic possibility. This is because actual "intelligence" is necessarily connected to awareness or consciousness of a living thing --such as a person or an animal. Consiousness is part of a spirit inside a sentient being.

Some people suppose that computers already "think" and are "intelligent," and to these people this seems to be so, because computers are able to accomplish amazing calculations and logic-processes at tremedous speeds which make virtually all people appear stupid in comparison. Many elderly people feel that computers are already conscious and able to reason and think.

--However, such machine "intelligence" only appears to be the case --and this is only because the people making this claim have an inadequate understanding of what computer information is, and that such "information" has nothing to do with actual awareness or consciousness on the part of the computer. Uninformed people don't realize that electronic computer information (and "memory") is actually just tiny electronic switches (in the form of transistors) that are either turned "on" or turned "off." These switches are no more profound (with regard to the computer being sentient) than the much larger switches which turn off and on lights in a house. There is no more consciousness involved in such electronic "memory," than there is in having information written on a piece of paper.

A switch that is on, is called a "one," but a switch that is off, is called a "zero." Any piece of data contained in the switches of computer "memory" is actually a series of these ones and zeros which stands for that piece of information. Larger amounts of information are stored in longer series of ones and zeros in the transistor-switches of computer memory. In addition, operations of computer logic are also lengthy series of ones and zeros in the transistor-switches of the computer's processors and electronic "memory."

Again, since the switches of computer memory are actually no more profound that the larger light-switches we use every day, we can easily see that there is no actual consciousness or information of which a computer is really "aware." -- And it doesn't matter how huge the memory-banks of computers become --even 20 or 100 years from now--, there will never be any more awareness in computers than there is in the light-switches on your wall. 1000 trillion electronic switches are no more conscious than one switch.

Oh yes, of course, artificial intelligence will get more and more sophisticated and fast --appearing to be truly intelligent-- but the operative word there will always be "artificial" intelligence. --It will never be actual intelligence, because true intelligence must unavoidably include the consciousness which is a property of a spirit.

Fifty years from now, computers will undoubtedly be able to carry on a "conversation" with people, and some people will surely insist that those computers have become conscious, but this will be a fantasy and an ever more effective illusion of intelligence which people will choose to believe, in an act of self-deception. However, those computer "conversations" will be no more real interactions of conscious entities, than if we tie a question written on a piece of paper on one end of a string and pull the string so that the pre-programmed answer pops up at the other end of the string. -- If there is no awareness, there is no actual thinking or conversation.

So, enjoy the speed and sophistication of improving computers through the years, ...but much more than that, we should be deeply amazed that we have other people around us with whom to truly converse, and to share actual intelligence. No person we meet is merely a machine, but also includes a personal conscious self-awareness.

- - And here is the original source of such truly intelligent interaction: "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27).

Again ...enjoy!