AI technology has made significant advancements in recent years, with ChatGPT now capable of passing the Turing test proposed by computer science pioneer Alan Turing. However, modern iterations of the test often overlook the gender-bending aspect that was integral to Turing’s original concept.

Alan Turing, known as one of the pioneers of digital computing, was also a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly during a time when anti-homosexuality laws were prevalent in England. His ideas about artificial intelligence, formulated in the 1950s, were not only innovative but also carried subtle queer undertones.

In Turing’s description of the imitation game, which later evolved into the Turing test, there are elements reminiscent of a drag show. The game involves three participants – a man, a woman, and an interrogator – with the goal of the interrogator determining the genders of the other two individuals. Deception and role-playing are central to the game, with Turing emphasizing the fluidity of both gender and intelligence.

During a BBC broadcast in 1951, Turing likened the computer to a ‘mechanical mind’ and challenged the notion of whether a machine could possess cognitive abilities akin to a human mind. This idea sparked controversy at the time, leading Turing to defend his theories in the essay ‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence’ and introduce the concept of the imitation game as a substitute for the question ‘Can machines think?’

While contemporary AI systems excel in various domains, from news production to healthcare, Turing’s original ideas offer a glimpse into the intersection of technology and identity. By infusing elements of gender performance and deception into his AI thought experiments, Turing laid the groundwork for a more nuanced understanding of artificial intelligence.