Reason & Reflection

Introduction           Recently, I stumbled upon a TEDx talk by Kristian Hammond that really got me thinking. It’s a deep dive into AI and touches on some of the big questions about how machines can reflect human traits like intuition and consciousness. Hammond’s take from five years back feels even more relevant today as we're seeing AI evolve in real-time.  And as always, we're going to take a philosophical look at it. Kristian Hammond discusses the nature of intelligence at TEDxNorthwesternU Image source: "A New Philosophy on Artificial Intelligence | Kristian Hammond | TEDxNorthwesternU" TEDx Talks,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr9oe2TZiJw&ab_channel=TEDxTalks. AI's Leap Towards Human-Like Wisdom           Kristian Hammond's TEDx talk on artificial intelligence from five years ago offered an insightful look into AI's potential to mirror human qualities like intuition and consciousness. At that time, AI see...

I’ve written before about the distinguishing factors between us and AI through my exploration of the Turing Test here, but that whole discussion made me start to think about AI ‘experience’.  In the realm of AI, the question of experience is a peculiar one. Can machines experience the world like we do? Phenomenology, the study of experiences and consciousness, traditionally zeroes in on human perception. But as AI systems advance, they compel us to ponder: does AI have its own form of experience? Do Machines 'Experience'? Let's be clear: AI doesn't experience emotions or sensations like humans. When your GPS recalculates your route, it's not flustered by the sudden change. Yet, AI does 'experience' the world in data streams, interpreting these inputs through complex algorithms. It 'sees' through cameras, 'hears' through microphones, and 'understands' through code. This mechanical sense of experience is devoid of subjectivity, yet it...

Quantum mechanics, a cornerstone of modern physics, has been unsettling the classical worldview since its inception in the early 20th century. By challenging our most fundamental assumptions about reality, determinism, and causality, quantum theory has not only revolutionized physics but also offered fertile ground for philosophical inquiry. Let's explore the profound implications of quantum mechanics for our understanding of the nature of reality. Unsettling the Classical Worldview Classical physics, epitomized by Newton's laws, presents a universe characterized by predictability and determinism. Objects, regardless of their size, are believed to exist in a specific place at a specific time, moving according to precise laws. This classical framework underpins much of our intuitive understanding of the physical world. Enter quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. Here, predictability and determinism give way to probabilit...