On Intelligence, Self-Awareness & the Nature of Consciousness

Exploring the intersection of consciousness, the nature of intelligence, computer science, and philosophy.

This is one of my middle-of-the-night muses. A brief and wholly inadequate glance at the intersection of AI, the nature of intelligence, and consciousness.

What keeps me up at night on the edge of wonder is when science and philosophy become enmeshed.

Here's an example of where science and philosophy make contact: when individual parts combine, they become something entirely new. Take for example, a single neuron: a single part with potential. But put enough of them together, and a nerve emerges. Continue to add nerves (oversimplifying here), and you create a neural network, then eventually a brain. At what point does any neural network become intelligent? When does rudimentary intelligence become conscious? Then of course, there's the enigma of consciousness.

It was almost yesterday in human history people thought consciousness emerged only when language emerged. So, according to science in yesteryear, babies weren't conscious until they started speaking. Funny, right? I'll sound guilty of presentism when I say society was adorable back then - but honestly, we're no less adorable and unaware today. Only, we have mobile devices now and the jury is still out if that is a blessing or a curse for humanity.

At a level I haven't felt in years, AI has stirred the inner skeptic, curious explorer, and the deepest dreamer in me; and gosh, are the three of them dancing.

Of course, I used a lot of my AI creations in this video because, you know ... AI.