Imagine a world where your gadgets no longer just respond to your commands, but actually understand your needs and act accordingly. Researchers are now exploring this possibility, raising major ethical and philosophical questions.
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The two paths of research in artificial consciousness
Research into artificial consciousness falls into two main streams. The first focuses on the possibility that current AI systems can become conscious. What changes would be necessary to reach this level?
The second stream, represented by Wanja Wiese, attempts to determine which AI systems could never become conscious. This approach aims to avoid the accidental creation of artificial consciousness, which raises important moral questions.
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The principle of free energy: a key to consciousness?
Wiese draws on Karl Friston's free energy principle, which postulates that life processes can be viewed as forms of information processing. For example, humans regulate their body temperature and the level of oxygen in their blood.
This principle could theoretically be simulated in a computer, opening the way to a new understanding of consciousness. If consciousness aids survival, then the associated physiological processes could also be simulated.
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Challenges posed by causal structures
A major difference between computers and brains is their causal structure. Computers load data from memory, process it, and then store it again, a separation that is absent in the brain.
In the brain, causal connectivity between different areas takes a different form, which could be crucial for understanding consciousness. This distinction poses challenges for modeling consciousness in artificial systems.
| 🔑 | Résumé |
|---|---|
| 🧠 | Two avenues of research |
| 🔬 | Principle of free energy |
| ⚙️ | Causal structures |
The researchers don't stop there. They also explore the energy efficiency of brains compared to computers. While our brains are extremely efficient, Wiese argues that this is probably not a necessary condition for consciousness.
This perspective could transform our approach to AI design and energy management, influencing future developments in smart technologies.
- Could current AI systems become conscious?
- How to avoid the accidental creation of artificial consciousness?
- What ethical and moral implications arise from this?
Ultimately, the question remains: are we ready to coexist with conscious machines? This technological evolution invites a deep reflection on our collective future and on the limits that we are ready to cross. What will be the next steps of this human and technological adventure?
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