It won't take much intelligence or even clever programming to simulate a human conversation that is better than what most people generate. Once this gets going, people will love having someone to talk to. One curious aspect will be how the program self-tunes itself to the users personality. What features will be attractive to what types of personality? Will narcissists spend all day listening to adoration? Will people become even less tolerant of actual humans?

The way I got it is that the guy was suspended for a time because of his claim. Lots of AI impresses me but they say we have none that is self aware at this time.

The guy's a lunatic

Non-biological sentience will be firmly upon us in the next 21 years.
2043 will mark the first centenary of the invention of the first programmable electronic computer by a man called Flowers, who deserves far more fame than he is credited.
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and
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