Can AI truly replicate human consciousness?
Angelique Slob
Helping Future-Focused Leaders increase stakeholder value by building People Centric Hybrid Workplaces based on data, not opinions. ????|?? Let's Connect??
Understanding AI for building conscious organisations in a new reality
Last Friday in Amsterdam during the Humanity Beyond AI: new science of consciousness event, leading experts came together to share their ideas about the question that is at the heart of the current developments:
Can AI truly replicate human consciousness?
It was one of the most fascinating debates I ever have attended.
Main guest was no-one less than Federico Faggin - the designer of the first commercial micro processor - and therefor the computer as we know it. Since the mid-eighties, Faggin has been researching artificial intelligence and experimenting with developing a conscious computer. The host of the event joked when introducing Federico Faggin:
‘you are the one who opened Pandora’s box’
So who is better equipped to answer this question? If we want to know if AI ever can surpass humanity, we need to first understand what defines us as human beings.
Federico decade long research has lead to his theory of consciousness - according to which
consciousness is a purely?quantum phenomenon, unique to each of us.
And it is consciousness what defines as a human being. Consciousness does not come from the brain, instead it resides in a ‘field’. As humans we are an expression of this consciousness in our perceived physical reality. Our physical brain is not conscious in itself. Consciousness uses the brain as a vehicle to translate it into ‘symbols’ (words, gestures, movement) so we can express what consciousness wants to express in this physical reality. Right now, your physical brain is processing the ‘symbols’ in this article and your consciousness is interpreting them, giving them meaning.
Artificial intelligence is a computer simulation of a human brain.
A simulation of a non-conscious ‘data processer’. And since it is consciousness that defines us a humans, there is no reason to assume artificial intelligence will ever replicate us. Just like your computer won’t start peeing on your desk if you run an exact simulation of a kidney on it - as one panel member explained it vividly. The debate was as scientific as it gets, also including leading scientists Bernardo Kastrup, Sarah Durston, and Jacob Jolij, and I found myself in a whirlwind of metaphysics, computer science and -engineering, parapsychology, neuroscience, philosophy and quantum physics.
Faggin has just released his latest book Irreducible, Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature - I highly recommend reading it.
领英推荐
Listening to Federico explaining his scientific theory of consciousness, I was reminded of our older human traditions.
After the event, I had the honour of having a few minutes of conversation with mr Faggin and after I thanked him, I said: your theory reminds me of Shamanism.
He grinned and confirmed that "shamanism wasn't all wrong" and that our western science is just starting to gain an understanding of what was prevalent in our ancient wisdom. Moving on, he also said that artificial intelligence is a powerful tool and there are dangers in us becoming dependent on it. Faggin underscored my firm belief that we as humans face immense global challenges and we have to understand how AI can help us solve them but also what the dangers are.
Co-existing with artificial intelligence
With the further integration of AI in the workplace and the narrative around it, it is important to understand what AI is and how it relates to us as humans. A better understanding will help us understand it’s role will be in our jobs and what that will mean for our workplace. I expect that we will co-exist with this technology - not only shape our day-to-day work around it, but also our organisations, and therefor our society. If we understand that AI, in essence, is nothing more than a simulation of a data processing organ, we can make conscious decisions (pun intended) about what that means for work and the place it has in our lives in a new, AI driven world.
Future-Proofing your Organisation for the era of AI - beyond automation.
I support People Leaders in their journey to build thriving organisations in the new reality shaped by AI. I do so through this newsletter, one-on-one consultations, the EVP Impact Program and a VIP mastermind group.
Want to find out more? Let's Talk
Employee Value Proposition Impact Scan.
Even thought about what AI implementation means for middle-management in your organisation? The EVP impact scan is an AI powered solution that helps companies with understanding AI’s impact on the broader organisation. The self-facilitated workshop guides your leadership team through a series of questions that will bring clarity and alignment around the areas where transformation is needed. After submitting your answers, you will receive a high-quality, personalised analysis, including risks and recommendations for the next step - within 48 hours.
The EVP impact scan is currently in beta, join the waitlist if you want to stay updated and be among the first to reap the benefits once we are out of beta with a 50% discount.
We are also looking for beta-testers: early adaptors who want to be involved in developing an exiting new solution at the forefront of The Future of Work.