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+--- Thread: AI as a form of subconscious intelligence (/thread-16971.html)
AI as a form of subconscious intelligence - Magical Realist - Dec 9, 2024
I was pondering the possibility that our own subconscious intelligence, always working in the background of our phenomenal consciousness, bears a striking resemblance to what we call AI. For one thing it lacks consciousness that would only slow it down, allowing it to run numerous programs like language and concepts and sensory data in parallel to each other. Essentially this too would be what AI does, only at present lacking any introspective experience of this processing unlike we have with our own consciousness. The type of "consciousness" that AI has might be more analogous to our dreaming consciousness, which occurs in us without any conscious experience of it. A "thinking" based on memory and imagination instead of on sentience and qualia. Here's an interesting article I found comparing these two ideas:
https://wherewegoing.substack.com/p/ai-is-not-conscious-it-is-subconscious
"In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, we often find ourselves questioning: is AI conscious? Is consciousness something that can even be simulated? Most experts agree that current AI models lack the understanding, awareness, and qualia to be determined sentient. That being said, AI mirrors the function of our subconscious mind in some remarkable ways. If my argument holds true, simulating human consciousness may be somewhat easier than expected.
If you are unfamiliar with the relationship between the subconscious and conscious mind, do not fret! I will try to provide enough context for you to gain a solid understanding. Before we begin, I should explain a few concepts from two of my favorite books – “Consciousness and the Brain” by Stanislas Dehaene, and “The Case Against Reality” by Donald Hoffman."
RE: AI as a form of subconscious intelligence - C C - Dec 9, 2024
Not just similar via the role of imagination conjuring mental images or audio when we request it, or performing all the repetitive body actions when awake that we don't usually have to think about (some pretty complex)... But apparently even being the guide during zombie-like sleepwalking and diabetic fugue incidents.
Have a relative, who -- during a low sugar state -- actually drove a car onto the highway and back to the starting point round and round, while not being consciously aware of doing it and remembering it afterwards. Fortunately, somebody eventually managed to get into the vehicle when she slowed down enough, and halted it. She had injected too much insulin for that particular day.
RE: AI as a form of subconscious intelligence - Magical Realist - Dec 9, 2024
Quote:Have a relative, who -- during a low sugar state -- actually drove a car onto the highway and back to the starting point round and round, while not being consciously aware of doing it and remembering it afterwards. Fortunately, somebody eventually managed to get into the vehicle when she slowed down enough, and halted it. She had injected too much insulin for that particular day.
Tales abound of people who take the sleep medication Ambien and eat things in their refrigerator at night and even drive around without being conscious of it. We are disturbingly close to being zombies. We can unconsciously perceive discomfort while we sleep at night and unconsciously perform the goal-directed action of shifting our body position to alleviate it. We can talk in our sleep and even think in our sleep while dreaming. Remind me again just what consciousness is needed for? A mere front-row seat to this puppet play of our bodies performing a myriad of unconscious routines? Where does consciousness leave off and unconscious programming take over? The Olympic gymnast performing her routine perfectly without having to think about it. The concert pianist's fingers and hands moving gracefully over the keys in response to the stored algorithms of years of practice. How much of our lives is unconsciously lived out, just lazily and thoughtlessly going thru the motions of autonomous daily routines? Are we all just along for the ride?