Could AIs become conscious? Right now, we have no way to tell.

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the implications of the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential emergence of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that could surpass human intelligence. It explores the moral and legal considerations that would arise if AGI machines develop the ability to consciously experience life, as well as the potential consequences if AI does not develop consciousness but simply outperforms humans in every conceivable situation.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Consciousness in Von Neumann computers

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• What are the key differences between human brains and modern computers based on Von Neumann architecture?
• Why are Von Neumann computers unlikely to achieve consciousness like humans?

The article explains that human brains are extremely energy-efficient analog devices capable of high-level parallel processing, while modern computers based on Von Neumann architecture are energy-intensive digital machines composed primarily of series circuitry. The physical separation of memory and processing in Von Neumann computers, known as the Von Neumann bottleneck, prevents them from matching or approaching the processing capacity of the human brain. This limitation makes it highly unlikely for consciousness to emerge in modern-day Von Neumann computers.

[02] Consciousness in neuromorphic computers

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• What are the key features of neuromorphic computer chips that differentiate them from Von Neumann computers?
• How might the development of neuromorphic technology increase the potential for artificial consciousness?

The article discusses that computer scientists are developing neuromorphic computer chips that aim to overcome the processing restrictions of Von Neumann computers by approximating the architecture of neurons. Neuromorphic chips combine memory storage and processing units on a single chip, using specialized low-powered processing elements like memristors to increase efficiency and mimic the brain's parallel wiring and low power requirements. If neuromorphic technology can be developed to the level needed to reproduce neuronal activity, it might have a greater potential to experience life consciously rather than just compute intelligently.

[03] Challenges in determining artificial consciousness

1. Questions related to the content of the section?

• What is the key challenge in determining whether AGI systems are truly experiencing consciousness or just appearing to do so?

The article concludes by acknowledging that even if neuromorphic computers achieve a level of processing complexity comparable to the human brain, there remains a significant challenge in determining whether AGI systems are genuinely experiencing consciousness or just appearing to do so. The article states that it will be difficult to know what is going on inside the mind of a machine.