Anil Seth, a leading professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Oxford, explores the mind-boggling issue of AI and consciousness. He discusses the fundamental differences between human intelligence and AI, warning against the risks of attributing human-like qualities to these technologies. Seth delves into how AI can aid our understanding of the brain while emphasizing the importance of treating AI as a tool. He raises thought-provoking questions about the future of conscious AI and the ethical implications of our relationship with machine intelligence.
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insights INSIGHT
Intelligence vs. Consciousness
Intelligence is defined by function and problem-solving ability.
Consciousness is about subjective experience, like the feeling of what it's like to be.
insights INSIGHT
Consciousness: Biological?
Throwing more compute at AI might not create consciousness.
Consciousness may be tied to biological substrates and the imperative of living systems.
question_answer ANECDOTE
AI Informs Neuroscience
AI interpretability research uncovered a computational mechanism in AI systems.
This mechanism was later rediscovered in mouse brains, showing AI can inform neuroscience.
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In 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness,' Anil Seth presents a radical new theory of consciousness, arguing that we are 'prediction machines' constantly inventing and correcting our perception of the world. The book delves into the biological mechanisms of the brain, exploring how billions of neurons create our conscious experience. Seth discusses the 'controlled hallucination' viewpoint, active inference, and the 'beast machine' theory, which views consciousness as a process of regulating the body's essential variables through interoceptive signals. The book is a synthesis of philosophy, science, literature, and personal experience, making complex science accessible and engaging[1][3][5].
Human brains are often described as computers — machines that are “wired” to make decisions and respond to external stimuli in a way that’s not so different from the artificial intelligence that we increasingly use each day. But the difference between our brains and the computers that drive AI is consciousness – our inner world, defined by experience and awareness. Anil Seth is a professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Oxford. He studies human consciousness and he’s concerned about the way we’ve come to think about AI as conscious minds rather than useful tools. Anil and Bilawal sit down to discuss the differences between intelligence and consciousness, the possibility of AI becoming self-aware, and the dangers of assigning human-like traits to our AI assistants. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit go.ted.com/TTAIS-transcripts
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