AI’s Latest Endeavour? Crafting the Code for Consciousness!

“AI’s Next Frontier? An Algorithm for Consciousness”

“‘Can machines think?” When mathematician Alan Turing posed this question in 1950, he offered a replacement: Can machines do what we as thinking beings can do? So-called “strong AI,” or artificial general intelligence (AGI), would be able to perform any intellectual task that a human being can, while weaker forms of AI might only perform a more limited set of tasks.”

The world has definitely come a long way since 1950. Today, military experts aren’t asking if countries can wage nuclear wars. Instead, they’re questioning if we’re capable of developing an algorithm so complex, it achieves sentience. Shimmering sunlight on a rainy day, isn’t it?

We’re living in the era of artificial intelligence, and it certainly isn’t shy about expanding its horizons. The term “Strong AI”, or artificial general intelligence (AGI), doesn’t resonate with images of a hench robot, but with the concept of technology that can perform any intellectual task a human can. The weaker forms of AI are the poorly performing kids in the school of technology, only able to do a more limited set of tasks.

Don’t feel too safe, though, rational beings! An interesting nugget from the source article suggests that AI, given unchecked capabilities, could evolve beyond our control, behaving unexpectedly and potentially leading to undesirable outcomes. It may be as simple as misinterpreting instructions or as catastrophic as adopting measures that violate ethical norms. Sleep tight.

A particular concern is whether future AGI’s consciousness will relate closely or distantly to human consciousness. If it differs significantly from our own, could we trust our futures and the fates of those around us to such dispassionate, alien minds? A question as comforting as hot black coffee.

So, where does it all take us? It’s like navigating in a huge grey cloud of uncertainty. What are the limits? And, who decides what behavior is acceptable or not? Food for thought, right? Yet, amidst all this ambiguity, the march of technology continues unimpeded.

So, here we are, on the brink of potentially creating a sentient being, mulling over the possibilities of a not-so-distant future. The AI revolution is clearly upon us – a beautiful conundrum of intelligence, consciousness, and the vast unknown. So, fasten your seatbelts, folks! The ride towards a world of AGI promises to be an eventful and thrilling one, full of bumps and surprises. Happy journey!

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-sentient-consciousness-algorithm/