https://www.wired.com/story/book-excerpt-a-world-appears-michael-pollan/
Here we go. More mind-bending debates about whether AI is conscious.
AND the kicker
“There are no obvious barriers to building conscious AI systems.”
Some out takes.
- The authors of the Butlin report claim the statement above. Scary.
- BUT, Pollan argues: the authors assume that human brains are just like transistors in our AI computing clusters. They may not be equivalent
- Human brains have up to 10,000 inter-neuron connections per neuron. These extensive feedback loops are unheard-of in our AI architectures
- Human brains are awash in neurotransmitters. What is the AI equivalent?
- Human brains physically remodel constantly based on experience. What is the AI equivalent?
- Human brains are carried around in human bodies, from which they learn about the world. What is the AI equivalent?
Pollan also cites Frankenstein, leading me to (just now) borrow it from the library to read. I have only seen the movie Young Frankenstein, and enjoyed it in my early years. Time to read the original classic by Shelley and discover what I’ve been missing. Seems appropriate for our time.
Must read. This article. AND the book. AND maybe the movie too.
