Google Engineer's Concern about Sentient Chatbot

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A Google engineer raised concerns about a potentially sentient and conscious chatbot, which led to him being put on leave after complaining to his boss. This incident highlights the growing concern as AI technology becomes more advanced, blurring the lines between artificial intelligence and consciousness. The engineer's apprehension suggests that the issue of determining AI sentience will become increasingly common in the future. The challenge lies in distinguishing between advanced AI capabilities and true consciousness, as it is often inferred rather than definitively known.

In “Psych: The Story of the Human Mind,” Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, lays out, in his words, “basically everything I know about the mind.” And when he says “everything,” he means it. Where does consciousness come from? Does IQ matter? What makes us happy? Was Sigmund Freud a madman? The answers to these questions (and more) are all in Paul’s book — and in this episode.

An edited version of Rufus’s interview with Paul first aired in April 2023. Today, we’re bringing you their entire conversation.

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