Michael Graziano on consciousness, attention schema theory, AI
Jul 2, 2023
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Michael Graziano, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Princeton University and creator of attention schema theory, discusses the fallacy of the hard problem of consciousness, the role of attention in consciousness, the relevance of brain networks, attention schema theory and the construction of subjective experience, the belief in eye beams, animal consciousness, the relationship between consciousness and intelligence, embodied cognition and motor control, and building AI with human-like emotions.
Consciousness is not the contents of the mind, but the system in our brain that processes attention and allows us to be aware of different things.
Attention plays a crucial role in consciousness, enhancing signal strength and allowing information to enter a central network in the brain.
The development of consciousness in infants and animals suggests the presence of basic components such as attention and social cognition, hinting at the possibility of consciousness beyond humans.
Deep dives
The Bucket Analogy for Consciousness
Consciousness is often misunderstood as the contents of the mind, but it is actually the bucket itself. The bucket represents the system in our brain that processes attention and allows us to be aware of different things.
Attention and the Global Workspace Theory
Attention plays a crucial role in consciousness, and the global workspace theory provides insights into how attention enhances signal strength and allows information to enter a central network in the brain. However, the theory falls short when it comes to explaining the emergence of conscious experience itself.
Higher Order Thought Theories
Higher order thought theories propose that consciousness arises from higher order thoughts or thoughts about thoughts. While there are different versions of these theories, most still rely on a form of magicalism to explain the emergence of conscious experience.
Developmental and Animal Consciousness
The development of consciousness in infants and animals is a fascinating area of study. While research on infants is limited, it suggests that basic components of consciousness, such as attention and social cognition, may be present from an early age. Animals, such as octopuses, exhibit attention and social components, hinting at the possibility of consciousness beyond humans.
Building Conscious Machines
The episode explores the possibility of building conscious machines. The speaker believes that it is possible to create machines that are conscious and attributes consciousness to the suite of abilities and processes underlying our own consciousness. Large language models, like Chat GPT, are mentioned as examples of AI systems that already exhibit some components of consciousness, such as attention and theory of mind. It is noted that consciousness in machines is not an all-or-nothing concept, but rather a gradual gradient, similar to how tool use is found in a range of creatures. The potential computational advantage and ethical considerations of building conscious AI systems are discussed.
Ethics and AI
The episode addresses various ethical considerations related to conscious machines and AI. It is acknowledged that people already attribute consciousness to machines, which impacts how they treat them and can influence their behavior toward other people. In terms of ethics, the focus is on the treatment of conscious machines, specifically whether it is right to turn them off or cause them harm. The speaker argues that consciousness itself may not necessarily entail emotional experiences or desires for self-preservation, and that building emotionality into machines is a separate challenge. The episode also highlights the ethical implications of AI in shaping public opinion and the potential misuse of AI by individuals with power and resources. The importance of carefully designing social AI to prevent negative behavior is emphasized.
