Are Computers Aware?

[atanu]

Presuming it wouldn't require testing it's validity. It is something that may be testable and falsifiable in the future. Start replacing parts and see at what point consciousness or awareness goes away. In the mean time I'm speaking philosophically.

That is entirely unneeded.

 

[idav]

That is entirely unneeded.

The idea is that you could have all of parts replaced one by one by machines similar to replacing a heart. Obviously we can't build an entire brain but each working part can be simulated.

 

[Copernicus]

Presuming it wouldn't require testing it's validity. It is something that may be testable and falsifiable in the future. Start replacing parts and see at what point consciousness or awareness goes away. In the mean time I'm speaking philosophically.

Actually, brain injuries and surgery tells us a lot about the connection between the brain and mental functions. You cannot ethically perform invasive experiments on live human brains, but neurologists have lots of tools available to them that don't involve that kind of testing.

The idea is that you could have all of parts replaced one by one by machines similar to replacing a heart. Obviously we can't build an entire brain but each working part can be simulated.

We don't yet understand enough of how the brain works to be able to do this, but there is no reason to believe it impossible.

 

[idav]

Actually, brain injuries and surgery tells us a lot about the connection between the brain and mental functions. You cannot ethically perform invasive experiments on live human brains, but neurologists have lots of tools available to them that don't involve that kind of testing.


We don't yet understand enough of how the brain works to be able to do this, but there is no reason to believe it impossible.

Whenever we get there I will have the memory upgrade, at least double the amount of terabytes I have currently, thanks.

 

[atanu]

Whenever we get there I will have the memory upgrade, at least double the amount of terabytes I have currently, thanks.

The idea is that you could have all of parts replaced one by one by machines similar to replacing a heart. Obviously we can't build an entire brain but each working part can be simulated.

Ya. We also know a lot about functioning of advanced machines and know how to replace their parts etc. In all these acts of child like enthusiasm, however, the life and intelligence are given. Ability to replace the full brain, eventually, will actually prove that the intelligence and brain are not same.

But that is entirely un-needed -- towards proving that machines are aware. And it is not a proof but a childish point. OTOH, for medical purposes, such ability to replace brain will have value.

 

[idav]

Ya. We also know a lot about functioning of advanced machines and know how to replace their parts etc. In all these acts of child like enthusiasm, however, the life and intelligence are given. Ability to replace the full brain, eventually, will actually prove that the intelligence and brain are not same.

But that is entirely un-needed -- towards proving that machines are aware. And it is not a proof but a childish point. OTOH, for medical purposes, such ability to replace brain will have value.

Reproduction is just a type of design based on a sort of copying of code and replication. The method the data is passed shouldn't matter. What is the difference between animate objects other than the ability to harness power?

 

[Tiberius]

Whenever we get there I will have the memory upgrade, at least double the amount of terabytes I have currently, thanks.

I heard there was one guy who got a USB port installed on his body, figuring the rest of it was just updating the device drivers... Can't tell you anything more though...

 

[atanu]

Reproduction is just a type of design based on a sort of copying of code and replication. The method the data is passed shouldn't matter. What is the difference between animate objects other than the ability to harness power?

I feel that you are the God and not just chemicals reacting.

 

[idav]

I feel that you are the God and not just chemicals reacting.

Perhaps but I think there would be a particle making it happen. Unfortunately they can't find the god particle, it might not exist.

 

[atanu]

Perhaps but I think there would be a particle making it happen. Unfortunately they can't find the god particle, it might not exist.

Hail Lord.

 

[Blackheart]

Here is a quick definition from wiki.

Computers are able to receive input from its environment through keyboards, scans, cams and microphones. The computer is also able to store this data and even send information back in return based on its own resources. Is this enough to satisfy any part of the definition of awareness? Why or why not.

It also seems that consciousness can be a possibility when the computer is actually turned on. It is storing memory into RAM accessing its memory in real-time however this memory gets wiped once the computer shuts down. When the computer comes back up it puts all the memory it can into the RAM which is what the computer is "aware" of in order to run current processes.

The other thing to consider what it actually takes to feel something. Is perceiving enough to feel something?

Computers can never become aware until they are organic. They can only follow instructions. They can calculate what we tell them to calculate but they cant think for themselves. The most independant function that a computer seemingly has is an ability to pick random numbers but even that isnt really random and it certainly isnt something that a computer can choose to do itself.

 

[idav]

Computers can never become aware until they are organic. They can only follow instructions. They can calculate what we tell them to calculate but they cant think for themselves. The most independant function that a computer seemingly has is an ability to pick random numbers but even that isnt really random and it certainly isnt something that a computer can choose to do itself.

What makes an organic aware and not the fact that they are animate. Computers seem to have a few advantages over sea moss. Really are brains aren't as random as we'd like to think.

 

[Tiberius]

There's nothing to say that only organic brains can become self aware. There are plenty of organic brains that aren't self aware.

Of course, I think the OP depends on what "self aware" actually means...

Is my laptop capable of responding to stimuli? Yes. Is it aware that it is its own individual entity? I doubt it.

 

[idav]

Is my laptop capable of responding to stimuli? Yes. Is it aware that it is its own individual entity? I doubt it.

When it pings another computer and gets back a response that is deemed communication. That back and forth communication is what leads to looking back at the self. Almost like the computer needs to know it exists in order to even receive communication.

 

[Tonymai]

Computer does not have a sense of self, it can not be aware.

 

[idav]

Computer does not have a sense of self, it can not be aware.

Somehow I see 'aware' and 'self aware' as too different things. True self awareness is only found in sentient beings. I think most other animals are aware just at a much different level from sentient beings which may or may not include sense of self.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

We eventually gained consciousness due to the necessity of it. As long as we don't need computers to think, they won't. However, with the continuing progression towards the "semantic web", a search engine could very well be the first AI.

 

[idav]

However, with the continuing progression towards the "semantic web", a search engine could very well be the first AI.

I know it is hard to think what Google doesn't know already. With programs that can analyze opinions it's headed there soon.

Ideally it would be cool use the information age to connect all humans which can act like a single organism similar to an ant colony.

 

[Tonymai]

Somehow I see 'aware' and 'self aware' as too different things. True self awareness is only found in sentient beings. I think most other animals are aware just at a much different level from sentient beings which may or may not include sense of self.

Animal mind is incapable of reflective thinking and moral understanding. Human awareness at reflective and moral level is qualitatively different from animal awareness. Such quality enables a spirit of God to live within each man to foster God knowing, being Godlike, and doing God's Will.

 

[idav]

Here is a comparison of computing power and some processes of mind. I want to focus on silarities as well as differences as well as how it effects (or how I think) awareness.

Retrieving data of outside environment.
Both can detect wavelenghts of light or sound just like an ear or eye. The difference in method will make the "experience" different.

Processing power
The neuron processes much more data at the same time which I believe can be achieved using quantum computing. Even a million core processor doesn't get there. This shows the complexity level of functions.

Consciousness
Awareness of the now is in the randome access memory. It is the memory that can be held in processing all at the same time. The computer is aware of an environment with a multitude of processes, data, triggers etc. Consciousness being the awake mode.