It’s the Great Fear of Our Time. I’m Mathematically Sure It Won’t Happen.
The article discusses the misconception that A.I. could achieve consciousness, comparing it to the historical understanding of motion in horses. The author argues that A.I. chatbots, while convincing, are merely complex mathematical formulas without true consciousness. This analogy highlights the difference between the illusion of life and actual living entities.
- ▪A.I. chatbots provide an illusion of consciousness but are fundamentally just mathematical calculations.
- ▪The comparison is made to Eadweard Muybridge's motion pictures, which were sequences of lifeless images.
- ▪Despite their complexity, A.I. systems are built on neural networks that operate as mathematical formulas.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Science There’s a Simple Reason Why I’m Sure A.I. Won’t Achieve Consciousness The individual pieces create a kind of illusion. By Noah Giansiracusa May 25, 20265:45 AM Stills from the first motion picture, The Horse in Motion or Sally Gardner at a Gallop, by Eadweard Muybridge, 1878. Bridgeman via Getty Images Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. When a horse trots, is there a moment when its four feet are in the air simultaneously? In the 1870s, Leland Stanford, the railroad magnate and benefactor of the university that bears his name, funded an effort to find out.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Slate.
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