Artificial Intelligence: Is there such a thing?
We have yet to create a true AI consciousness able to think and learn on its own.
Even if it was possible to create a machine that was truly self aware and intelligent, would the substance of the intelligence be considered artificial?
To really answer this question we must consider the nature of intelligence.
Intelligence within organic life is the capacity to engage in complex thoughts, which exist as electrical impulses in the brain sent through neurons composed of organic molecules. Whereas true intelligence within a computer would also be the capacity to engage in complex thoughts which would also be electrical in nature except the impulses are sent through non-organic molecules. Therefore, would a genuine manufactured intelligence be considered artificial, or would a better term be inorganic?
Is it then possible to even consider intelligence as artificial at all? Even if such intelligence existed in a silicon chip or other non-organic form, could this be an artificial intelligence or would the intelligence be as natural as our own intelligence just within a different medium? Could it be that intelligence exists on its own, but is only harnessed and expressed through a medium like a brain or a computer?
These are very intriguing questions I have been thinking of lately, spurred on by watching the movie, 2001 A Space Odyssey. It is also reminiscent of the idea of "Ghost In The Machine"... What if intelligence is not produced by a brain, but merely harnessed by it? This would be rather profound (spiritually and otherwise)... and could the invention of a conscious computer (Like HAL in 2001) be some form of evidence for this? That intelligence is an inherent component of nature?
Originally posted by zeeblebotwell... I do have a gut feeling that consciousness is everywhere, but that could be because "everywhere" is simply all that I perceive, which exists in my mind, and therefore all that I perceive is an aspect of my own conscious mind and so would have that same property... Anyway... here is an interesting link along this subject (now we are link trading) http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/search/index.cfm?i=1&q=consciousness&submit=submit&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&u1=q
Originally posted by ChessJesterI have this theory that we're all slaves to a matrix that makes us live our lives in a virtual world that in reality is nonexistent.
well... I do have a gut feeling that consciousness is everywhere, but that could be because "everywhere" is simply all that I perceive, which exists in my mind, and therefore all that I perceive is an aspect of my own conscious mind and so would have that same property... Anyway... here is an interesting link along this subject (now we are link trading) http://www.quantumconsciousness.org/