The British mathematician and computer scientist, Alan Turing, is regarded as the father of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He was born in London on June 23rd 1912 and excelled in academic studies from a young age. In 1936, he completed his PhD at Princeton which focused on mathematical logic. During WW2, Turing worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park, where he developed ground-breaking cryptanalysis techniques. He is thought to have cracked the Enigma machine’s code which would have significantly aided the Allies against Nazi Germany. Turing also made extraordinary leaps forward in AI research during his lifetime. In 1950, he proposed the Turing Test to determine if a computer system can think like a human. His research also laid the foundations of modern-day computers and led to our current understanding of computers as digital devices able to process information in a logical manner. Turing was notoriously persecuted for his homosexuality even though it was legalised in 1967, two years after his death in 1954. This wrongful treatment caused public outcry, and eventually led to Queen Elizabeth II granting him a posthumous pardon in 2013, 59 years after his conviction for gross indecency with another man. Today Alan Turing is widely celebrated as one of Britain’s greatest scientists and is renowned all over the world for contributions to mathematics and AI theory. He will forever be remembered as a genius whose work changed history, and as an advocate for LGBT rights whose legacy still resonates today. Also read: Data Science

Turing’s Legacy in Computer Science Turing made tremendous contributions to computer science during World War II, when he worked on breaking Nazi codes. His pioneering work in artificial intelligence also included developing one of the first chess playing programs, as well as conceptualizing what has become known as the “Turing Test” for computing machines. This test evaluates whether a machine is capable of exhibiting intelligent behaviour comparable to that of humans. Today, Alan Turing is remembered as one of technology’s most influential figures, due to his incredible accomplishments and impact on revolutionizing computational technology. From helping to secure victory in World War II, to inspiring major advances in artificial intelligence and computer science, Alan Turing’s legacy continues to shape our world today.

Alan Turing’s Achievements Turing's logical approach to Bletchley Park's codebreaking problems enabled him to create innovative methods for deciphering enemy communications. His work helped to speed up the process and ultimately aided in Britain's victory. He was also credited as identifying what he referred to as ‘a universal machine’ – a machine that could perform any calculation if given a simple set of instructions. This is now known as the modern computer. Not only did Turing help decipher codes during WW II, but he has also left an indelible mark on Artificial Intelligence. He proposed theories