The Future of Being People Initiative delved into the topic of whether AIs dream of electronic individuals on October 24, exploring the potential consciousness of synthetic intelligence. Experts highlighted the significance of replicating human senses to bridge the gap between AI and human experiences.
While over half of Americans anticipate AI and devices to revolutionize tasks like caregiving for children and the elderly, experts caution that substantial advancements are necessary before such applications can be fully realized.
Andrew Maynard, the founder of the Coming for Being People Initiative and a faculty member at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, emphasized the speculative nature of conscious AI. He underscored the broad spectrum of possibilities inherent in this concept.
Maynard emphasized the need for AI to engage with the physical world akin to humans to achieve true autonomy. This entails the ability to perceive, hear, and interact physically—a prerequisite for AI to embody human-like qualities.
Mark Daley, the current chief AI officer at Western University in Ontario, envisions a future where conscious AI is attainable. However, he acknowledges the complexity of defining consciousness, highlighting the inherent challenges in this endeavor.
Daley raised concerns about the ethical implications of granting consciousness to AI, particularly regarding the potential for suffering if AI is altered or manipulated for various purposes.
The evolution of AI bodies lags behind software advancements, posing a hurdle in enabling AI to interact physically with the environment. The pace of automation development must align with ethical considerations surrounding human-like AI.
Blake Richards, an associate professor at McGill University specializing in computer science, neurology, and cognition, predicts a delay in the realization of AI with mobile robotic bodies comparable to the human physique due to varying rates of technological progress.
Despite the current obstacles, the widespread integration of AI and its envisioned benefits continue to fuel discussions on its transformative potential.
