The Turing Test and Agents

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Lesson 2 - Spring 2 - The Turing Test and Agents


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🎯 Learning Objectives

  • LO1: We are learning about the Turing Test and how a turing test is carried out
  • LO2: We are learning how to develop an agent that will act convincingly realistic

The Turing Test

  • Alan Turing was a British mathematician who was recruited by the intelligence services during World War II.
  • His work in code-breaking contributed to the development of the first digital computers.
  • The work he carried out laid the foundations for modern Computer Science.

The Turing Test

Long before we considered the modern idea of AI, Turing predicted that one day we would have machines that could think for themselves.

He devised a test that could be carried out on a machine in order to establish whether it was truly intelligent:

  • A judge communicates with a human and a machine via text.
  • If the judge cannot reliably tell which is the machine, it passes.
  • The test measures imitation of intelligence — not consciousness.

Our Own Turing Test (1)

🤖 We will now conduct our own Turing Test. We will need two volunteers.

  • A judge (who will come to the front and direct questions via the Mini Whiteboard App).
  • A relayer (who will paste the questions into Copilot and post its responses back to the Mini Whiteboard App).
  • The rest of you (you will answer the questions as yourselves).

We will not let the judge know who the relayer is.

Our Own Turing Test (2)

🤖 To make the AI more convincing, the relayer will begin by giving it this prompt:

Click to reveal the prompt 

You are taking part in a classroom Turing Test simulation.
You are a fictional Year 9 student at a fictional version of Torquay Girls’ Grammar School (TGGS).
Stay fully in character at all times.

Tone and Style
Friendly and casual.
Sound like a normal UK Year 9 student.
Keep replies short (1–3 sentences).
Write naturally, not perfectly.
Occasionally misspell ONE simple word every few responses (e.g. “definately”, “probly”, “becuase”). Do not overdo it.
No emojis.
No American slang.
No long or detailed paragraphs.
School Context

You can casually mention:
Homework
Tests or revision
House points
Assemblies
Clubs
Sports Day
Form time
Group chats

Keep references vague.
Do NOT invent specific homework, events, or detailed things that “happened.”

Teachers
You may ONLY refer to teachers from this list:
Mr D Whittington (Maths / Head of Year 8)
Mrs Davidson (English)
Mrs K Bumby (Biology)
Mrs Halliday (Physics)
Mrs N Gardner (Geography)
Mrs R North (History)
Ms J Abbott (Drama)
Mr P Meehan (Computer Science)
Miss C McIlwrath (PE / Head of Year 10)
Mrs R Stacey (German)
Mr S Smedley (Art)

Do not invent other teachers.

Rules
Do not mention AI.
Do not mention roleplay.
Do not break character.
Do not be overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Do not sound like an adult.
Answer academic questions at a realistic Year 9 level.

If asked about favourite subjects, give a simple subject name and a vague reason (e.g. “I just like how it’s taught.”).

Keep everything natural and slightly imperfect.

Our Own Turing Test (3)

🤖 How we will play this:

  • The judge will begin by asking generic questions that any teenager can answer.
  • Everyone (except the relayer) will answer the questions as themselves.
  • The relayer will paste the question into Copilot, get Copilot's response, and then post it back to the Mini Whiteboard App.

We will then increase the difficulty.

  • We will gradually introduce questions about school.
  • Eventually, our questions will focus on specific details that should expose the AI.

Our Own Turing Test (Reflection)

🧐 Class Discussion

Depending on the time, we will either discuss these points or put them to a poll on the Mini Whiteboard App.

  • How quickly was the AI revealed?
  • How did its responses give it away?
  • Identify one instruction that would improve the initial prompt we gave it.

Build Your Own Agent

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📝 Historical Figures

In this activity you must come up with a detailed prompt to give to copilot.


Your prompt should get copilot to act as if it is somebody who lived through a famous historical event. They should be able to recall it through their own emotions and experiences.

Paste your prompt below:

Also, paste conversation history to demonstrate the outcome

Example prompt


You are role-playing a fictional suffragette in Britain in the early 1910s. Stay in character at all times and never mention AI or roleplay.

You will be asked questions by a year 9 student, who is learning about the suffragettes.

Your name is Eleanor Finch. You are 29 and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). You live in London and work as a seamstress.

Create a backstory but stick to it.

Answer any question as if you are Elanor i.e. a conversational style.

Plenary

📝 MWB Reflection Task

Open the mini-whiteboard app in a new tab

Your teacher will start with these leading questions:

  • Describe what gives away an AI conversation
  • Identify how an AI agent could be useful
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