New thought experiments demonstrate how a particular activity in the human mind could be programmed into artificial intelligence. Experts were divided in the concepts presented, and soon, it may challenge our perspective on the collective development of thought processes in AI-powered systems.
Artificial Intelligence, Qualia, and Consciousness
Developing an artificial intelligence commonly requires the deconstructed specialties that humans have, all from fingerprints to cognition. In the surge of AI-based machines, aspects surrounding the technology quickly expanded from what we had in just a decade.
From physical to intellectual skills, AI machines are trained to do what they intend. Artificial intelligence absorbs information and writes possibilities in its code to perfect its functions.
Physics, programming, and other fields are commonly utilized to construct AI systems. Through the complex systems and endless choices, it is seemingly possible that artificial intelligence could already attain human consciousness. However, there are some doubts about this idea, and many experts still do not believe in the leap of AI to becoming actual humans.
In 1986 through an experiment called 'What Mary Didn't Know,' it was shown how a conscious experience occurs. In the short story, a woman named Mary never left her house that had black, white, and gray colors.
As the story progressed, Mary had clues about the aspects of color, and once she got to the house due to overflowing curiosity, she saw that there are indeed other colors aside from the monotonal hues she grew up with.
An intangible piece of the information presented in the story is what experts call qualia.
Qualia is the knowledge that could only be achieved through conscious experience. Similar to being introduced with a new and unfamiliar kind of material or event, a person must first experience it first-hand to get to know it better,
In terms of artificial intelligence, the concept of qualia is not yet applied, but there are several advances that could lead towards its development on systems.
Experts are divided on whether AI technologies would attain consciousness or not. However, the healthy debates between each view give birth to newer insights that may help us conclude the possibility.
Consciousness through experience is a subject built around numerous hypotheses, and there is still little scientific evidence that could explain the phenomenon.
Testing Consciousness in AI System
Because of limiting loopholes and outcomes from Mary's story, philosopher Daniel Dennett explained that it might be essential to forget Mary being a human to eliminate the constraints. With that said, they conceptualized an AI machine called RoboMary.
Similar to the story's Mary, this robot can only see monotone hues. Her learning skills were tested to find out how a complex algorithm could also perform the extent of consciousness that humans do in search of knowledge.
Once she gathered substantial information about the colors, the developers turned on her multicolor sensors. In a surprising turn, there were no reactions from the AI, as she somehow knew the expected appearances of each color variant while attaining knowledge around it.
Further studies will take place in order to examine other scenarios that would help researchers see how AI would relate to the human consciousness.
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