I haven't seen this addressed directly, so I wanted to bring it up for discussion here.<p>I propose that the latest version of ChatGPT (o1-preview) is Turing complete. My argument hinges on a simple observation: ChatGPT can execute arbitrary programs written in the BASIC programming language.<p>Given that a system capable of running arbitrary BASIC programs is Turing complete, it seems reasonable to conclude that ChatGPT itself possesses this property.<p>Evidence: I’ve tested ChatGPT with a variety of BASIC programs, such as the following:<p><pre><code> 10 LET X = 0
20 LET Y = 1
30 FOR N = 1 TO 15
40 LET Z = X + Y + 1
50 LET X = Y
60 LET Y = Z
70 PRINT Z
80 NEXT N
</code></pre>
ChatGPT successfully processed and executed the program, outputting the correct results. You can see the interaction https://chatgpt.com/share/67116f0c-2df4-800d-a235-9b6a2cb73ca4 and I encourage anyone to verify the behavior using a BASIC interpreter like this one https://yohan.es/swbasic/<p>I'd love to hear the community's thoughts on whether this observation qualifies ChatGPT as Turing complete and the broader implications if so.
Essentially, you reason that<p>1. If ChatGPT is turing complete, it can execute this BASIC program<p>2. It can execute this BASIC program<p>3. Therefore, it is turing complete<p>If you don't see the flaw in your reasoning, ask ChatGPT to explain "affirming the consequent" to you.
I think the question is interesting because I've seen a number of people making claims such as "ChatGPT cannot do this/that".<p>No. ChatGPT as it currently stands can execute any possible program (within practical constraints: no infinite memory/time/etc.)