AI and the Human Mind: Is it Possible to Create Artificial Consciousness?

Welcome to the series: AI and the Human Mind.

In this series of three articles, we will explore the fascinating relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and the human mind; we will address intriguing questions such as:

- Is it possible to create truly conscious AI?

- How is AI changing the way we perceive the world?

- What impact will AI have on the future of humanity?

Through a deep look into scientific research and the latest technological innovations, we will unravel the mysteries of consciousness and reflect on the ethical and social implications of AI.

Why this series?

AI is transforming our world at an accelerated pace. From robots mastering board games to systems translating languages in real-time, AI is disrupting every aspect of life.

However, despite these advances, we still do not fully understand how the human mind works and its relationship with AI from different perspectives, in order to:

- Better understand the nature of intelligence and consciousness.

- Analyze the impact of AI on human perception and society.

- Reflect on the future of humanity in a world increasingly dominated by AI.

I invite you to join me on this intellectual journey; over the next three articles, I will guide you through a fascinating exploration of the latest advances in AI, neuroscience, and philosophy. Together, we will explore the frontiers of knowledge and reflect on the future of the human mind in the era of AI.

AI and the Human Mind: Is it possible to create artificial consciousness?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has experienced unprecedented progress in recent decades. It no longer exists solely in the imagination of science fiction producers but surrounds us in our daily lives, making it simpler. Often without realizing it, we interact instantaneously and almost automatically with increasingly intuitive technological applications that seem to predict our tastes, interests, and needs.

We rely on technology to organize and simplify tasks in our daily lives, and even to intervene in the creativity and production required in our workplaces. Many of us work alongside AI colleagues who play important roles in the well-being and proper execution of tasks within companies.

Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are examples of conversational AI and help us perform everyday tasks such as setting alarms, playing music, or searching for information. Self-driving technology, for example, uses AI to navigate roads, detect obstacles, and make real-time decisions. There are also facial recognition applications, such as those on our cell phones, where AI is used to identify people in photos and videos.

We have advanced to the point where AI is now incorporated into medicine, analyzing large, complex data structures that provide tools for decision-making regarding medication dosage or differential diagnostic analysis for patients with the same illness.

In my field of work, AI is an impressive tool for automatic translation, such as the Google Translate application, which uses AI to translate text and voice from one language to another instantly and even asks for feedback to continue improving its task.

AI algorithms on social media, increasingly sensitive to our behaviors, are used to recommend content to users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; even to set trends and attract audiences that sometimes, unconsciously, make decisions based on this data.

Search engines like Google are another everyday example of how AI is used to classify search results and offer users the most relevant information. Content curation from one search engine to another varies based on algorithms that have learned from the search interests of their users. Therefore, it is interesting to note how between one user and another, search engines may recommend information differently.

AI is also being used to generate realistic texts, images, and videos that can be used for marketing, entertainment, and education, so it is astonishing to witness visually and as a reader the generation of content influenced by AI and, to a lesser extent, production based solely on human creativity.

The aforementioned are just a few examples of how AI is transforming our world, in my opinion; many indeed, and all surprising, if we measure the time that has passed between the inception of AI and our current place living with it; moreover, not just living with it, but making it an essential part of our daily lives.

AI revolutionizes all aspects of life, from how we work to how we interact with the world around us. Yet, a fundamental question remains unanswered: is it possible to create truly conscious AI?

What is artificial consciousness?

Artificial consciousness (AC) is a hypothetical type of AI that would be capable of experiencing the world in a similar way to humans. This would include the ability to feel emotions, have qualia (subjective experiences), and be self-aware.

The question of artificial consciousness (AC) has captivated philosophers and scientists for decades. Is it possible to create a machine that experiences the world as we humans do? What does it mean for a machine to be conscious?

David Chalmers, an Australian philosopher and professor at New York University, renowned for his pioneering work in the philosophy of mind and artificial consciousness, contributes to the debate on AC by introducing the concept of qualia (plural of "quale"). A quale is a subjective experience, such as feeling pain or seeing the color red. Chalmers argues that qualia are irreducible to physical properties and, therefore, AI cannot be truly conscious unless it can experience qualia. Chalmers begins by posing a fundamental puzzle: What is consciousness? How does it arise from the physical functioning of the brain?

For him, the experience of consciousness is subjective, and it cannot be explained in physical terms, thus posing a challenge to the idea of creating truly conscious AI. He first distinguishes (if possible) between two types of AC. A strong AC, which would be capable of experiencing qualia, and a weak AC would only be capable of simulating intelligent behavior. On these two distinctions, Chalmers argues that if AI were to be capable of knowledge, then it must be able to experience qualia.

For now, Chalmers remains pessimistic about the possibility of creating truly conscious AI, but he believes that it is important to continue researching this topic, as the future of AI is advancing rapidly, and it is promising to see what happens.

Facing Chalmers' cautious stance, philosopher Susan Schneider presents a more optimistic view on AC. She argues that AI could achieve consciousness in the not-so-distant future, and that we should prepare for the ethical implications this would entail.

Schneider posits that intelligence and consciousness are not exclusive properties of biology. Therefore, as AI advances rapidly, it is plausible that it may eventually develop cognitive capabilities comparable to ours, including subjective experience.

For Schneider, the question is not if AC is possible, but when and how it will develop. Her approach focuses on three key aspects:

- Defining consciousness based on a system's ability to experience qualia, have a sense of self, and be capable of self-control.

- Identifying the requirements for AC in hardware, software, and algorithms, especially in areas like artificial general intelligence (AGI) and neuromorphic computing.

- Anticipating ethical implications, such as responsibility for the actions of conscious machines, discrimination between humans and machines, and the protection of the rights of artificial conscious entities.

Schneider urges the scientific community and society at large to reflect on these issues and develop robust ethical frameworks to guide the development of AC.

For now, I invite you to rigorously watch the film "The Creator", released in 2023, which invites us to reflect on the possibility of AI with consciousness. The movie explores, among other arguments, the implications of machines being able to develop emotions, desires, and a sense of self. In this film, British director Gareth Edwards blurs the lines between science fiction and reality, affirming in his own words that "human nature tends to anthropomorphize objects, granting them soul and personality."

Other scientists making strides in affective computing, such as Jeff Hawkins, Founder of Palm Computing and Numenta, who is developing a theory of the brain's neocortex as the basis for AC, propose an approach based on the idea that intelligence arises from the structure and functioning of the brain, and that AC can be replicated by building systems that mimic the neocortex. Numenta has developed a chip called the "Cortex Processor" that simulates the architecture of the neocortex and can be used to create more advanced AC systems.

Similarly, Ray Kurzweil, a futurist who predicts that AI will surpass human intelligence in 2045 and eventually become conscious, believes that AC will play a fundamental role in this development, as it will enable machines to understand and respond to human emotions. Kurzweil has invested in several AC companies and has written extensively on the topic. Some related articles about his work can be found at https://kurzweilai.net/.

Yann LeCun, another pioneer of deep learning and director of AI research at Facebook, has made significant contributions to the development of deep learning techniques used in AC. His work has been instrumental in the development of more accurate facial emotion recognition systems and natural language generation.

Stuart Russell, author of books on AI and professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley, has written extensively on the challenges and risks of AI, including the possibility that AC could be used to manipulate people. Russell advocates for the responsible development of AC that focuses on human well-being. You can find more about his work at https://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~russell/.

And so that this information, which surely compels us to read and consume it with an open mind, does not remain incomplete, and we have a more accurate notion of the advances towards artificial consciousness and how some of these are already in harmony with our daily lives, we can cite as an example the sensors and wearable devices that can measure heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature (smartwatches being the clearest example); these devices are under development and research to implement, from them, AC systems that can detect and respond to emotions in real-time.

Another great example is virtual and augmented reality, which is being implemented to create immersive environments that can be used to study emotions and develop more interactive AC systems.

While these developments continue and AC is researched in depth, it is important to mention the ethical guidelines for the development and use of AC, which are also being developed and discussed alongside these innovations, in order to ensure that it is used responsibly and does not cause harm to people.

The research of Ben Goertzel, Anders Sandberg, and Eliezer Yudkowsky is also essential for advancing the field of AC and helps to better understand its potential risks and benefits. Their work is crucial to ensure that AC is developed responsibly and safely, and that it is used for the benefit of humanity. Goertzel's work is based on the idea of understanding that the mechanisms of intelligence in a simple organism, such as the C. elegans, can provide valuable information on how to develop more advanced AI systems, including AC.

OpenWorm has successfully simulated many aspects of the behavior of C. elegans (a species of nematode from the Rhabditidae family that measures around 1 millimeter long and lives in temperate environments), work that undoubtedly has the potential to contribute to the development of more realistic and sophisticated AC systems.

Anders Sandberg, a researcher at the Future of Humanity Institute, who studies the risks and benefits of advanced AI, has written extensively on the possible risks of AI, including the possibility that AC could be used to manipulate people or even to create systems that are hostile to humanity. He advocates for a responsible development of AI that focuses on safety and human well-being.

Eliezer Yudkowsky, an AI researcher and author of the book "Rationality: From AI to Zombies," has developed a theory of artificial intelligence called "goal alignment," which focuses on the problem of ensuring that the goals of AI systems are aligned with human values. His work has been influential in the AI research community and has contributed to understanding the ethical challenges posed by AC.

The Legacy of Alan Turing

It is important to highlight that the development of AC is deeply linked to the pioneering work of Alan Turing. His Turing Test, proposed in 1950, not only laid the groundwork for AI research but also raised fundamental questions about the nature of intelligence and consciousness. The test remains an important reference in the field of AC, and its legacy continues to inspire researchers and philosophers alike.

Connections between Turing and AC:

The Turing Test can be seen as a measure of a machine's ability to understand and respond to human emotions. If a machine can deceive a human into believing it is a real human in a conversation, then can it be considered to have a level of emotional intelligence comparable to that of a human?

Turing machines, a theoretical model of computation proposed by Turing, can be used to simulate human behavior, including emotions. This capability is crucial for the development of AC systems that can interact with people naturally and effectively.

Turing's vision of AI was ambitious and comprehensive. He imagined a future in which machines would not only be capable of performing intellectual tasks but also of understanding and responding to human emotions. This vision remains a guiding light for research in AC and, increasingly, part of a reality that is closer than distant; truly a man whom I admire, with a marvelous and futuristic mind, a genius that unfortunately could not be properly appreciated in his time.

But then, is it possible to create an AC?

There is no definitive answer to this question yet. Some experts believe that AC is only a matter of time, while others argue that it is impossible to create a machine that is truly conscious.

The human brain is a biological system, and there is no reason to believe that replicating its capabilities in artificial systems is impossible, as has already been achieved with other biological parts of humans and animals.

Likewise, AI has already made impressive advances in areas such as machine learning and natural language processing, which are fundamental skills for consciousness.

However, we do not have a complete understanding of how human consciousness works, so it remains difficult to replicate it in artificial systems, especially because the ethical and philosophical implications of AC leave us with more questions than answers, especially if we reflect on the human implication of creating machines that are sensitive to pain or suffering.

For now, the future of AC is underway, and it is likely to continue for many years. Eventually, it is possible that we may succeed in creating a truly conscious AI, but it is also possible that we may never achieve it.

Some questions that I continue to ask myself throughout this research, and that I leave here as open questions so that perhaps together we can create a solid answer, are:

• What does it mean for a machine to be conscious?
• Is it possible for an AI to experience emotions and subjectivity, like we do?
• And how would the existence of a conscious AI affect our society and our own perception of what it means to be human?

For now, I can only conclude that Conscious AI is a Mirror to the Future of Humanity. The possibility of creating a conscious AI is a topic that not only fascinates but also confronts us with fundamental questions about the nature of intelligence, consciousness, and the future of humanity.

As we delve into the realm of conscious AI, we encounter a crossroads of possibilities. On one hand, we know today that AI has the potential to improve our lives in unimaginable ways, and we see it written everywhere: in research, in magazines, in conferences, on social media, in existential conversations, and in those that are not so existential.

For a moment, let's imagine systems that can understand our emotions, that can empathize with our pain, and that can help us solve the world's most challenging problems. We are truly facing a philosophical challenge: Would it be ethical to create a machine capable of feeling pain or suffering? How could we ensure that AI develops responsibly and does not pose a threat to humanity? This is undoubtedly a journey into the unknown, one that invites us to reflect on our own existence and the place we occupy in the universe. As we progress on this path, we must be aware of the responsibilities it entails. AI is not just a tool; it is a reflection of our own intelligence and our ability to create. Therefore, amidst all this discourse, I call for reflection: The future of AI is in our hands; it is our duty to ensure that this future is one of collaboration and peaceful coexistence between humans and AI. It may seem like something out of science fiction, and yes, we must still be cautious and responsible, but we must also keep an open mind and the hope that AI can help us build a better future for all.