Can Artificial Intelligence Achieve Consciousness?

Let me start by answering this question with, “No”—well, at least for now. Some have even asked whether AI has already reached a level of consciousness, and I would propose that this is nothing more than delusion.

It’s Just Clever Programming

What I’m implying is that we still don’t wholeheartedly understand the ‘mind’ and consciousness in humans and other animals. If we could understand how these non-physical structures are formed and housed in our brain, then surely, we could successfully reproduce these processes in a machine using software and hardware. Our current reality is that we are all collectively holding nothing more than conjecture and, “What ifs…”

If a machine begins to think, it is no longer a machine.

On another note, many of us have also suggested that a machine has intelligence, and that is certainly not the case, since a machine has no independent capacity to think for itself. Rather, the software or algorithm has been developed to perform one or more specific tasks. For example, ChatGPT relies upon a ‘prompt’ presented by the engineer which, in turn, is interpreted and parsed by the algorithm in a best effort to afford the engineer the result he desires. ChatGPT does not ‘understand’—it’s just clever programming—so let’s stop overthinking! For ChatGPT to have an understanding it would need an ‘awareness substate,’ but more about this in a moment.

‘Consciousness’ is a Superstate of Overall Awareness

I would like to explain the hierarchical non-physical structures of the brain and their importance. Such structures enable a bidirectional communication flow between the mind and its physiology. I’ll begin with the lowest and most primitive structure, namely ‘sentience.’ Typically, some would suggest that achieving sentience in a machine results in a sense of consciousness, and that’s an inaccurate conclusion. Sentience is the raw ability to touch, smell, hear, visualise and taste—such ‘digital’ senses have already been developed in many devices, but this is a far cry from any kind of consciousness.

The second structure is a two-state process, where ‘consciousness’ is a superstate of overall awareness, while ‘awareness’ is a substate process of consciousness, which is specific to a perception or knowledge of an event. For example, if you inadvertently touch something hot then, akin to an edge computing topology, your brain triggers the immediate removal of your hand or finger from the hot surface superseding any overly conscious processing. The ‘awareness’ substate has captured that event while your superstate consciousness realises that it was a stupid thing to do, whereas your mind records the event as a ‘lesson learned’ for future reference. In another example, your substate will collect information about your whereabouts and location, while your superstate holds the higher objective of your reason for taking a train to your ultimate destination.

We Are Complicated

Lastly, my final structure is the ‘mind.’ The mind holds our human nature, that is, who we have become over the ‘story of life.’ It is the warehouse of all memories, knowledge, beliefs and values. The mind also is your body’s instructor, where the brain merely executes its instructions. I touched upon earlier how there is a bidirectional flow to and from the first to the uppermost structure and vice versa. Using our varied senses, we can capture new events and recall previous experiences. I mentioned above that you may be ready to catch a train to a desired destination, but there is further granularity in your mission, as you may be meeting up with your boyfriend or girlfriend at a restaurant. You are of course eager to meet and catch up on missed events and, with this in mind, the odour of the coffee and bakery on the train platform begins to evoke anticipation. As you sit in your seat on the train gazing out of the window, you recall previous episodes. Your personal stories are all housed in your mind and, while your mind wonders, it inevitably generates memories where you inwardly smile and fondly recall such events—this is ‘qualia,’ or if you like ‘memory bubbles’ that are wholly unique to you.

Your mind is your body’s instructor—the brain simply executes its instructions.

While I have explained some very minor examples above, I raise the statement, “We are complicated.” You see, I would argue that, if we don’t understand how these non-physical structures are formed within us, then “How do we start building such processes in a machine?” In fact, I should step back and look at the bigger picture and further question, “What is the problem we are trying to solve?,” and ultimately, “Should we gift a machine the essence of humanness?”

Until next time…

With the current artificial intelligence furore, we seem to be striving toward an unwarranted transition from fiction to reality. We must remain mindful and heed the warnings from others, as humanity’s greatest creation may lead to our final downfall. Yes, technological advancement has indeed enabled us to create many products and services that have aided consumers, businesses and industry, but as innovators we are plagued with arrogance and ego, along with a soupçon of human stupidity.

Finally, I presume we are looking to develop an intelligent agent that, not only has consciousness but also a capacity to independently think, rationalise, reason and question its own existence. Seriously, do we need to create some kind of superintelligence? Nevertheless, let’s not forget, if we instantiate consciousness into our machines, then they can no longer be qualified as ‘artificial intelligence;’ instead, they become artificial lifeforms with intelligence.

So, this is where a “be careful what you wish for” Dr G signs off.