Alan Turing
Mentioned in 23 analyzed podcast episodes across 10 shows
English mathematician and computer scientist who pioneered foundational concepts in computing, including Turing machines and the formalization of computation and Boolean logic. He is widely discussed in AI and computing podcasts for his groundbreaking work during WWII as a cryptanalyst who broke the Enigma machine, and for proposing the Turing Test in the 1950s as a benchmark for machine intelligence—a concept that remains central to contemporary discussions about AI capabilities and consciousness. His early theoretical frameworks continue to influence modern computing research and philosophy around artificial intelligence.
Appears On
Episode Appearances
The a16z Show · Apr 2, 2026
Alex Blania on Proof of Human and Building World's Identity Network
“1950 Turing Test referenced as foundational concept for distinguishing humans from machines”
A Beginner's Guide to AI · Mar 28, 2026
Are You Human? Proof it!
“Proposed the Turing Test in 1950 for machine intelligence based on external behavior”
Chasing Life · Feb 27, 2026
The Miracle and Mystery of Consciousness
“Computer scientist who developed the Turing test for machine consciousness in the 1950s”
Galaxy Brain · Feb 27, 2026
What Do the People Building AI Believe?
“Proposed Turing Test 75 years ago as benchmark for machine intelligence; test now surpassed by ChatGPT”
Killer In The Code · Feb 19, 2026
Chapter 10: New Age Sherlock
“English mathematician and cryptanalyst cited as Baber's hero for breaking Enigma machine during WWII”
Deep Questions with Cal Newport · Feb 16, 2026
Ep. 392: Are “Micro-Streamers” the Future of Media? + Why Cal Spent $60 on a Task App
“Early computer scientist who expressed concerns about recursive self-improvement and AI control in foundational computing era”
Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) · Feb 16, 2026
Evolution "Doesn't Need" Mutation - Blaise Agüera y Arcas
“Referenced for formalizing the concept of function and computation through Turing machines”
AI + a16z · Feb 10, 2026
Sam Altman on Sora, Energy, and Building an AI Empire
“Referenced for his quote about computers needing to be smarter than mediocre minds, not brilliant ones”
Oxide and Friends · Feb 7, 2026
Software Engineering Past, Present, and Future with Grady Booch
“Computing pioneer; Grady met people who worked with Turing at University of Manchester and Bletchley”
Me, Myself, and AI · Jan 20, 2026
Connecting Language and (Artificial) Intelligence: Princeton’s Tom Griffiths
“Foundational computer scientist whose work translated Boolean logic into computer principles”
The Joe Rogan Experience · Jan 15, 2026
#2439 - Johnny Knoxville
“Computer scientist and WWII codebreaker chemically castrated for being gay; created the Turing Test”
Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson · Jan 12, 2026
AI's Most Dangerous Truth: We've Already Lost Control
“Pioneering computer scientist; created Turing test concept that shaped AI development trajectory”
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas · Jan 5, 2026
339 | Ned Block on Whether Consciousness Requires Biology
“Mathematician credited with proposing the Turing Test as a criterion for machine consciousness based on behavioral output”
Hard Fork · Jan 2, 2026
Our 2026 Tech Resolutions + We Answer Your Questions
“Created the Turing test; test has been passed by modern LLMs but milestone went culturally unmarked”
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing) · Dec 26, 2025
Peter Norvig: Transforming AI Into the Ultimate Human Advantage | Artificial Intelligence | AI Vault
“Founder of AI field who wrote about chatbots in 1956, foundational to Norvig's discussion of AI history”
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett · Dec 18, 2025
Creator of AI: We Have 2 Years Before Everything Changes! These Jobs Won't Exist in 24 Months!
“Founder of AI field (1950); predicted machines understanding language could pose existential risks”
Google DeepMind: The Podcast · Dec 16, 2025
The Future of Intelligence with Demis Hassabis (Co-founder and CEO of DeepMind)
“Mathematician and computer scientist; Turing machines are central to Hassabis's core research philosophy”
The Tucker Carlson Show · Dec 4, 2025
Why Are You Gay? Milo Yiannopoulos Explains.
“Referenced as historical example of closeted homosexual chemically castrated by British government”
StarTalk Radio · Dec 2, 2025
Are We The Universe’s Way of Knowing Itself? With Brian Cox
“Introduced universal Turing machine concept (1930s) foundational to emergence of replicators in random code”
Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson · Nov 24, 2025
How AI Will Save Humanity: Creator of The Last Invention Explains
“1940s pioneer who envisioned thinking machines and predicted AI takeover; foundational figure in AGI concept history”
The Last Invention · Oct 9, 2025
EP 3: Playing the Wrong Game
“Early AI pioneer whose vision of machine intelligence influenced decades of AI research direction”
The Last Invention · Oct 2, 2025
EP 2: The Signal
“Foundational AI theorist who envisioned thinking machines during WWII, created the Turing Test, and predicted machine superintelligence.”
Dwarkesh Podcast · Sep 26, 2025
Richard Sutton – Father of RL thinks LLMs are a dead end
“Quoted by Sutton on the definition of machine intelligence: 'a machine that can learn from experience'”