Our brains are constantly making predictions about the world and using sensory information to confirm or update those predictions, which can lead to perceptual distortions.
The extended mind perspective recognizes that cognitive deficits can be partially offset by using external tools and technologies, emphasizing the importance of considering everyone as extended agents.
Deep dives
The Predictive Brain: Perception, Precision, and Pain
The podcast episode explores the concept of the predictive brain, which posits that our brains are constantly making predictions about the world and using sensory information to confirm or update those predictions. The example of the hollow mask illusion is given to illustrate how our predictions can override sensory information, leading to perceptual distortions. The role of precision in attention is discussed, with the idea that precision weighting determines the extent to which sensory input or predictions drive our experience. The relationship between emotion and prediction is highlighted, suggesting that emotions are constructed based on predictions about bodily changes and the world. The potential applications of this framework in interventions such as reframing and self-affirmation are explored, providing ways to modify our mental states by altering our predictions and precision weighting.
Embodied Cognition and the Extended Mind
The concept of embodied cognition and the extended mind is introduced, challenging the notion that the mind is solely located in the brain. The idea that our cognition extends beyond the brain and can be influenced by the body and the external environment is discussed. Perception-action loops are emphasized as central to cognition, allowing us to offload mental work onto the environment and facilitating prediction and action. Examples of extended mind phenomena are mentioned, such as using a notebook for memory augmentation or relying on external sources for information retrieval. The potential implications of AI for further expanding our extended mind are briefly touched upon.
Extended mind perspective on cognition
The speaker argues for the extended mind perspective on cognition, asserting that viewing humans as extended agents who rely on tools and technology is more accurate than considering them as highly compromised agents. They highlight the analogy with prosthetically enabled athletes and how relying on tools and technologies is a natural part of cognitive functioning. The extended mind perspective recognizes that cognitive deficits can be partially offset by using external tools and technologies, and it emphasizes the importance of considering everyone, including oneself, as extended agents.
The integration of technology and consciousness
The podcast explores the integration of technology, particularly AI systems, into human consciousness. The speaker acknowledges the potential of AI systems, including generative AIs, as powerful and useful tools that can become part of the extended mind. They highlight the need for AI systems to close perception-action loops and experiment on the world to truly exhibit conscious experiences. The speaker also anticipates the emergence of nested ecosystems of artificial intelligence and human intelligence, where AI systems become intertwined with human cognitive processes. They remain optimistic but cautious about the ethical and existential risks associated with the advancement of AI technology.
Sam Harris speaks with Andy Clark about the predictive brain, embodied cognition, and the extended mind. They discuss the structure of perception, novelty, precision, pain, psychedelics, emotion, ways to hack our predictions, hypnosis, meditation, artificial intelligence, consciousness, and other topics.
Andy Clark is Professor of Cognitive Philosophy at the University of Sussex. He is the author of several books including Surfing Uncertainty, Mindware, Supersizing the Mind, Being There, and most recently, The Experience Machine. His academic interests include artificial intelligence, embodied and extended cognition, robotics, and computational neuroscience.
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