The TED AI Show Could AI really achieve consciousness? w/ neuroscientist Anil Seth
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Dec 10, 2024 
Anil Seth, a cognitive and computational neuroscience professor at the University of Oxford, dives deep into the fascinating distinction between consciousness and intelligence. He discusses the intricate nature of human consciousness and why AI, despite its advancements, lacks true self-awareness. Anil warns against anthropomorphizing AI, highlighting the risks of overreliance on these technologies. They explore the ethical implications of AI systems, emphasizing the importance of human oversight in our evolving relationship with artificial intelligence.
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Intelligence vs. Consciousness
- Intelligence is defined by function and behavior, focusing on problem-solving.
- Consciousness, however, is about subjective experience, like the feeling of redness or greenness.
Qualia and AI
- AI systems, especially language models, can convincingly mimic conscious experience.
- However, true consciousness involves qualia, the subjective quality of experience, which is difficult to define or measure in AI.
Biological Basis of Consciousness
- Consciousness may be uniquely biological due to the brain's embodiment and material substrate.
- Anil Seth suggests that the brain's physical nature plays a crucial role in consciousness.
