A large contributing factor to the current trend of Turing fetishism is the fact that so many people in a range of fields read "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" in University as an introduction to the problem of artificial intelligence. It was the first paper assigned in at least 3 of my classes.
For many people, this is the first time that they consider such issues and so Turing is solidified in their mind as: 'old mathematician guy who invented computers and the idea of artificial intelligence'.
Given the authoritative atmosphere of university and an absence of any of the surrounding history, it's easy to imagine that people would get attached to a singular figure. And indeed they have.
For many people, this is the first time that they consider such issues and so Turing is solidified in their mind as: 'old mathematician guy who invented computers and the idea of artificial intelligence'.
Given the authoritative atmosphere of university and an absence of any of the surrounding history, it's easy to imagine that people would get attached to a singular figure. And indeed they have.