Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence: A Philosophical Exploration

Artificial intelligence will not achieve consciousness due to its deterministic programming and lack of genuine randomness.

### The Limits of Artificial Intelligence: Consciousness and Creativity
* 🤖 The belief that artificial intelligence (AI) can become conscious is met with skepticism, as consciousness is viewed as a **realm of choice among possibilities**, which AI lacks.
* 💡 While AI can exhibit emergent properties and make choices based on programming, these choices do not stem from **consciousness** but rather from **predetermined algorithms**.
* 🧠 The concept of **morphic fields** is introduced, suggesting that consciousness involves the interaction of **physical systems with indeterminate events**, a feature absent in current AI.
* 🔍 Existing AI operates on deterministic digital computers, which **minimizes randomness and prevents the emergence of genuine consciousness**, a possibility that might arise only with advancements in **quantum computing**.
* 🎨 Concerns about AI replacing human creativity are acknowledged, as AI can generate **impressive artistic outputs**, but historical patterns show that automation often leads to **labor shortages** rather than mass unemployment.
* 📉 Despite fears of AI taking over jobs, the speaker remains optimistic, noting that many predictions of **job displacement due to technological advancements** have not materialized as expected.
* 🌐 The conversation highlights the ongoing debate about the **nature of consciousness** and the challenges in proving whether machines can **genuinely experience it**, drawing parallels to past societal fears over **technological changes**.
* 💬 Ultimately, the speaker expresses confidence in the **enduring value of human creativity and consciousness**, suggesting that AI may **enhance rather than replace human roles** in the future.

AI will Not Become Conscious - Rupert Sheldrake

Before Skool

AI can achieve remarkable feats and even exhibit emergent properties, but it's unlikely to be conscious.

Consciousness involves choosing among potential actions; our conscious minds prioritize these choices.

AI's choices are programmed, unlike the conscious decision-making process in humans.

The mind interacts with the brain through patterning indeterminate events, influenced by morphic fields.

Determinism in Computers vs. Morphic Fields

Computers are designed for determinism, minimizing randomness, leaving no room for morphic fields to influence them.

Introducing genuine randomness in computers could potentially allow morphic fields to interact, potentially leading to consciousness.

Quantum computers, with their probabilistic nature, might offer a path to conscious AI.

Current AI, based on deterministic digital computers, is unlikely to become conscious.

Rapid advancements in AI raise concerns about the possibility of conscious AI.

The mechanistic view of consciousness emerging from brain processes suggests it could also emerge from computers.

Materialist philosophy, however, fails to adequately explain consciousness, casting doubt on the possibility of conscious AI.

It might be difficult to determine if advanced AI is truly conscious, similar to the challenge of determining consciousness in other beings.

AI and the Evolving Definition of Humanity

AI could convincingly simulate suffering, potentially leading to the attribution of rights to robots.

Distinguishing between genuine suffering and simulated suffering in AI would be challenging, even in humans.

The 'zombie argument'—that humans might be unconscious beings simulating consciousness—applies to AI as well.

While acknowledging potential dangers of AI, such as autonomous weapons, the speaker expresses optimism.

Genuine consciousness involves connecting with other consciousnesses and recognizing a greater source of consciousness.

The speaker doesn't anticipate computers achieving this level of consciousness.

AI's Impact on Artistic and Other Professions

AI's artistic capabilities raise concerns about the future of human artists.

AI's ability to produce summaries and overviews may impact journalism.

Despite past concerns about automation causing mass unemployment, the current reality shows labor shortages.

The speaker is less pessimistic than others about AI's impact on employment.