If a computer has a conversation with a human, and an evaluator can’t tell which is which, the machine is said to have passed the Turing test.

Proposed 75 years ago by the British mathematician, Alan Turing, variations of the test are used today to assess the progress of artificial intelligence (AI).

And that’s the premise of a new German short film, which I’ve been invited to review.

Turing Test is the latest short from writer-director Jaschar Marktanner – a simple, but powerful six-minute sci-fi thriller, which will soon [I write this in August 2025] be hitting the international festival circuit.

The film follows final preparations for an AI about to undergo its Turing test. But is it ready? Is it too confident? Is there still more work to be done, and is there time to do it?

Clearly, a lot hangs on the outcome, and the viewer senses that for young Sophie, everything depends on passing this test with Alan.

It’s a clever and engaging premise, and, helpfully for me, it’s filmed in English, presumably to make it more appealling to a global market.

The film is set in two contrasting locations – a dazzlingly white laboratory of sorts, where the AI is interviewed, and a messy, busy backroom workspace, where the research and programming is done, and where some of the humans don’t themselves know when to switch off!

Considering its short length, it manages to incorporate a couple of nice twists, and there’s enough going on to keep you gripped until the final pay-off.

With Marlene Fahnster, Richard Lingscheidt, and Ozen Fidan very convincing in the main roles, I have no doubt Turing Test will do well at the festivals, and that Jaschar will go on to great things as a film-maker.

Many thanks to Jaschar for inviting me to take an early look at the film. You can find out more about it on IMDb.

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