Whether Machines Could Become Conscious?
The question is not new but has gained new significance in the age of AI
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The question is not new and has been in the human mind for centuries. But the conditions to find an answer also have been the same - chaotic. Can machines behave consciously - this question must have come up when the first machines came up. Or even before that -how much consciousness does a plant have compared to an animal? And does a plant have more consciousness than a tree or less? The relevance of bringing in AI and some ability to think artificially - does this bring in thinking ability or consciousness in a machine?
What is the difference between consciousness and presence? Between presence and awareness? is consciousness the same as awareness? Consciousness and Self? And now can a machine become conscious?
But we have for millennia treated a clay lump as the epitome of consciousness. That is not even a machine. Ha Ha. There is nothing that you come up with that Sanatana has not already dealt with, and to a large extend reasoned out and perhaps even resolved. But that is for another day :)>.
The illuminated masters would have laughed at this all and said -everything exists in consciousness. It is more important to experience it than try to intellectualize it or make it a debatable topic.
This Speaking Tree edition by Narayani Ganesh brought up some interesting aspects that I wanted to share. For the full story go here.
Where does AI figure in all of this? LeDoux says only biological life can become conscious. Dennett too says even if we artificially mimic biological attributes, the result will not endow the machine with intention or an agency with beliefs and desires. AI is not an intentional system that can make wilful choices.
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Bio: https://medium.com/illumination-curated/meet-mr-sridhar-pai-tonse-34b7133ff1eb
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