Questions like these are really interesting. Unfortunately, they are shot down immediately on Lemmy, which is pretty disappointing.
It’s just because AI stuff is overhyped pretty much everywhere as a panacea to solve all capitalist ails. Seems every other article, no matter the subject or demographic, is about how AI is changing/ruining it.
I do think that grappling with the idea of consciousness is a necessary component of the human experience, and AI is another way for us to continue figuring out what it means to be conscious, self-aware, or a free agent. I also agree that it’s interesting to try to break AI and push it to its limits, but then, breaking software is in my professional interests!
I do think that grappling with the idea of consciousness is a necessary component of the human experience, and AI is another way for us to continue figuring out what it means to be conscious, self-aware, or a free agent
You might be interested in the book ‘The Naked Neanderthal’ by Ludovic Slimak. He is an archaeologist but the book is quite philosophical and explores this idea of learning about humanity through the study of other forms of intelligence (Neanderthals). Here are some opening paragraphs from the book to give you an idea of what I mean:
The interstellar perspective, this suggestion of distant intelligences, reminds us that we humans are alone, orphans, the only living conscious beings capable of analysing the mysteries of the universe that surrounds us. These are countless other forms of animal intelligence, but no consciousness with which we can exchange ideas, compare ourselves, or have a conversation.
These distant intelligences outside of us perhaps do exist in the immensity of space - the ultimate enigma. And yet we know for certain that they have existed in a time which appears distant to us but in fact is extremely close.
The real enigma is that these intelligences from the past became progressively extinct over the course of millennia; there was a tipping point in the history of humanity, the last moment when a consciousness external to humanity as we conceive it existed, encountered us, rubbed shoulders with us. This lost otherness still haunts us in our hopes and fears of artificial intelligence, the instrumentalized rebirth of a consciousness that does not belong to us.
It’s just because AI stuff is overhyped pretty much everywhere as a panacea to solve all
capitalistails. Seems every other article, no matter the subject or demographic, is about how AI is changing/ruining it.
Agreed :(
You know what’s sad? Communities that look at this from a neutral, objective position (while still being fun) exist on Reddit. I really don’t want to keep using it though. But I see nothing like that on Lemmy.
