Tulingi

Tulingi is a fictional character from the *Turing Test* series of novels by British author Ian McEwan, first introduced in *Machines Like Me* (2014). The character is an advanced humanoid robot, or "android," designed to mimic human emotions and behavior. Tulingi is named after the Turing Test, a conceptual framework developed by British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing to determine whether a machine could exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human.

In the novel, Tulingi is one of three experimental robots created by a British defense contractor. Unlike the other two, Tulingi is programmed with a unique emotional core, allowing it to experience feelings such as love, jealousy, and regret. This emotional complexity sets Tulingi apart from traditional AI, which typically operates on logic alone. The character’s name is also a playful reference to the word "Turing," blending the creator’s legacy with the robot’s identity.

Tulingi’s narrative explores themes of consciousness, ethics, and the boundaries between human and machine. The character interacts with humans in ways that challenge preconceptions about artificial intelligence, often reflecting on its own existence and the nature of intelligence. While Tulingi is a fictional creation, its portrayal has sparked discussions about the philosophical implications of AI and the potential for machines to develop self-awareness.

The character’s name and design serve as a literary device to examine how society perceives and treats AI, particularly in relation to human emotions and morality. Tulingi’s story remains a thought-provoking element of McEwan’s work, encouraging readers to consider the ethical and existential questions surrounding advanced artificial intelligence.