Is Artificial Intelligence Conscious?

Is Artificial Intelligence Conscious?

I truly like the study of consciousness, though it is safe to say no one really knows what it is. Some philosophers has avoided the problem by claiming consciousness simply doesn’t exist. It's the ultimate escape clause. However, the "therefore, it does not exist" argument also applies to "truth", "God", and even "reality" all quite beyond a consensus description for at least three millennia. For each issue or problem defying description or understanding, simply escape the problem by claiming it doesn’t exist. Problem solved or problem avoided? Alternately, as Daniel Dennett explains consciousness as an account of the various calculations occurring in the brain at close to the same time. However, he goes on to say that consciousness is so insignificant, especially compared to our exalted notions of it, that it might as well not exist[1]. Oh, well.

Getting back to consciousness, most of us have views (aka theories) of what it may be, but there is no consensus amongst scientists or philosophers, though great novelists must have clear and resonant views. Our task here is not to offer a fresh definition, but to suggest a starting point. Sometimes, before clarifying a difficult concept, it is helpful to consider precursors or early signs of it. For consciousness, consider the following stages.

A. Stimulus-response. (Lower organisms on up.)

B. Belonging (herds and pack predators, sociability)

C. Can mimic behaviors (beginning of learning)

D. Learn new strategies or use tools (mostly predators, first stage of innovation)

E. Emotional states (as in internal feelings by many animals and us)

F. I am or self-identity (first signs of consciousness)

G. Self-reflectiveness (internal self-communication)

H. Consciousness (humans)

I. Creativity (higher-order consciousness)

Artificial Intelligence (AI), seems locked at Stage A, though with its marvelous language ability, it seems more than just Stage A. However, with training, it learns more. (Think of the single-celled Ameoba, with the Harvard library of knowledge and the writing skills of an English professor.) But does it learn new strategies for its responses or how it trains? Does it reflect on what it spews out? Does it have a self-identity? I have read some of these codes are now writing new codes – no humans involved. Maybe this counts.

A colleague has suggested that AI can generate conjectures and ideas at random, and then decide on their validity. Indeed, this seems to jump from Stage A to Stage I, bypassing any need for consciousness. Interesting thought, yes? Further still is the fact that AI is in its very, very days, and its future is an unknown unknown.

Hoping this puts a few things into perspective.

[1] Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. (P. Weiner, Illustrator). Little, Brown and Co.

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