We are back with a final conversation in this AI series, bringing together John Verveake and Sam Tideman to discuss the limits of artificial intelligence.

For me, this conversation is a watershed moment in the AI debate. Based on John’s work (read the paper here ), there is a fundamental difference between the AI/computer science paradigm and human intelligence, which the current genre of artificial intelligence cannot cross! So we can stop worrying about the machines replacing us! But we need to start worrying about the delusions of those who think they’re making humanity 2.0…

This conversation delves into the profound difference between AI algorithms and relevance-realizing agents, sparking thought on the concept of relevance realization and its pivotal role in organismic agency, cognition, and consciousness. It underscores that organismic agency and cognition transcend computational nature and cannot be fully encapsulated by algorithmic approaches.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Background

08:20 The Role of Relevance Realization in Organismic Agency and Cognition

14:16 The Limitations of Current AI Models in Comprehending Purpose

25:12 Exploring the Potential for Artificial Life and Relevance Realization in AI

33:31 AI: Neither Just a Tool nor a Full-Blown Agent

37:10 The Deflation of AI and the Search for Purpose

39:29 Caring for the True, Good, and Beautiful

44:54 The Difference in Caring

48:31 Starting at the Pinnacle of Cultural Ratcheting

53:31 The Limitations of Imitation

55:47 Relevance Realizing Machines

01:02:57 Theological Considerations

01:06:38 The Sin of Displacement

01:10:45 Philosophical and Theological Reflection