When does a machine become "self aware"

[davec51]

This question was definitively answered in the 1930's by a man named Turing, who in effect invented the modern computer with his theoretical Turing Machine. Way back then he was asked when computers would have to be considered conscious, and he proposed The Turing Test. I can't explain the nature of the test in detail, but I'm sure a Search will uncover plenty about it. The test has yet to be applied to any machine.

[jlr1701]

When its stable positronic net is activated. I believe Lore was Dr. Noonien Soong's first successful android. He was (or from our perspective, will be) activated on September 9, 2335. But, he was evil and had to be deactivated. The Data we all know and love was next. And of course Dr. Juliana Tainer, Data's "mother", is also an android.

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Noonien_Soong

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Data

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Lore

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Juliana_Tainer