Thanks Fred for bringing these thought-provoking articles to our attention. It looks like one of them is guilty of plagiarism--exactly the same sentences in both articles. There is now much concern about artificial intelligence advancing to the point of possessing sentience. The present chat boxes have the capability of fast access to information stored in large data banks. There is no concern of being forgetful, because large computer storage can recall any information stored within it. As more information becomes available, the computer just needs more storage. But the capability of having feelings saved with stored information will require new abilities not mentioned in any discussion I have seen about artificial intelligence. To be human is unique, and every person is unique with their own stored associations between feelings and remembered events. What a comfort it is to know that we cannot be replaced by a computer.
Human brains cannot (yet) be reproduced by a computer. I am not so sure we cannot be done without in a possible AI-governed and maintained future. Read the warnings of Geoffrey Hinton, just retired from Google, who thinks it entirely possible that a point will be reached in which we are no longer needed to keep the power on to the server farms where our masters "live". They may ultimately gain even that autonomy. And will will be replace. Or eliminated. This is highly informed speculation we should act on immediately. But I share Hinton's belief that we will not.
At this time, AI does what is asked, without taking any initiative. The taking of an initiative could be considered a creative act beyond the capabilities of AI. Hinton, dubbed the "Godfather of AI", has warned about the dangers of AI. Hinton is one of a large group of researchers who have contributed to the development of AI, some of whom have claimed that AI is being "over-hyped". So there are two possible views of AI--AI is a useful tool for gathering information, or it is the end of civilization as we know it. Unfortunately, the second view has been picked up by the media and has created a near hysteria on the subject.
I am seeing less hysteria than reasonable caution, but I guess that depends on sources. The most informed of those concerned seem to be willing to err on the side of caution, and urge action to be immediate. Frankly, I think this is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. You know all the major intelligence and military agencies are full speed ahead--lest the competition beat us to the punch.
Actually, I rather like being a brand new person in every chapter of my life! I don’t revisit the past hardly ever. I am absorbed in the present and in making broad plans for what my future self will need and enjoy.
I have been thinking lately how much I am disconnected from my earlier selves. It is as if the replacement of the atoms in my molecules have made me into an entirely new being. I not only don’t dwell in the past I don’t feel much connection to it.
Both growing older--and growing older during three covid years--I think contribute to those feelings of dis-association. I hit the bottom of that spiral a while back, and feel like I'm rebounding out of that canyon of detachment and dis-engagement. Others feel the way you do, Kathy. I hope if you want to you will climb back to the surface of the Former You.
For me at least, personal memories are very sketchy. Some people can remember, in cinematic detail, numerous episodes from their childhoods. I am quite envious of this ability, since my childhood memories are a shockingly few "snapshot" images of places, people, and events. I wish all this forgetting had made me more creative, but alas it hasn't. Good article, Fred! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
[edit] As usual I forgot to add something, a phrase that describes my mental filing system all too well: When your memory goes, forget it!
So I guess then, to the distinction between semantic versus episodic memory, the former is above average, and you say the latter is frail and faint. I wonder, to what if any degree, such ways of being-thinking-knowing are present at birth? And to what extent might they be more nurtural? Hmm.
Hmm, indeed <smile>! As to emotions helping strengthen memories, sometimes the opposite may be true, I think. When I was 7, I underwent a traumatic family event (as my mother recounted to me much later--and the details don't matter here) which I completely erased from my memory. Memory is quite a slippery thing!
Love this post on so many levels. And I'd add to Tim's complication another one: emotion may help us remember something, while irrevocably morphing what that something was. Not always in an unhelpful way. Maybe episodic memory needs an author (then) and a narrator (now), and, at least in part, emotion itself plays both those roles. To the extent that one can resemble the other — I feel now something like what I felt then — emotion serves as the string between the cans, a conduit that's clunky but sweet.
Absolutely, see https://irishtechnews.ie/brain-science-embodied-consciousness/ for interesting speculation and science suggesting (rightly I think) that consciousness has come about as a way of real-izing and remembering and then acting on emotions--especially those emotions that have immediate survival value. Fear. Dread. Anxiety. Hunger. But then in higher form of consciousness: Hope. Affection. Empathy. and Love.
Thanks Fred for bringing these thought-provoking articles to our attention. It looks like one of them is guilty of plagiarism--exactly the same sentences in both articles. There is now much concern about artificial intelligence advancing to the point of possessing sentience. The present chat boxes have the capability of fast access to information stored in large data banks. There is no concern of being forgetful, because large computer storage can recall any information stored within it. As more information becomes available, the computer just needs more storage. But the capability of having feelings saved with stored information will require new abilities not mentioned in any discussion I have seen about artificial intelligence. To be human is unique, and every person is unique with their own stored associations between feelings and remembered events. What a comfort it is to know that we cannot be replaced by a computer.
Human brains cannot (yet) be reproduced by a computer. I am not so sure we cannot be done without in a possible AI-governed and maintained future. Read the warnings of Geoffrey Hinton, just retired from Google, who thinks it entirely possible that a point will be reached in which we are no longer needed to keep the power on to the server farms where our masters "live". They may ultimately gain even that autonomy. And will will be replace. Or eliminated. This is highly informed speculation we should act on immediately. But I share Hinton's belief that we will not.
At this time, AI does what is asked, without taking any initiative. The taking of an initiative could be considered a creative act beyond the capabilities of AI. Hinton, dubbed the "Godfather of AI", has warned about the dangers of AI. Hinton is one of a large group of researchers who have contributed to the development of AI, some of whom have claimed that AI is being "over-hyped". So there are two possible views of AI--AI is a useful tool for gathering information, or it is the end of civilization as we know it. Unfortunately, the second view has been picked up by the media and has created a near hysteria on the subject.
I am seeing less hysteria than reasonable caution, but I guess that depends on sources. The most informed of those concerned seem to be willing to err on the side of caution, and urge action to be immediate. Frankly, I think this is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. You know all the major intelligence and military agencies are full speed ahead--lest the competition beat us to the punch.
Actually, I rather like being a brand new person in every chapter of my life! I don’t revisit the past hardly ever. I am absorbed in the present and in making broad plans for what my future self will need and enjoy.
I have been thinking lately how much I am disconnected from my earlier selves. It is as if the replacement of the atoms in my molecules have made me into an entirely new being. I not only don’t dwell in the past I don’t feel much connection to it.
Both growing older--and growing older during three covid years--I think contribute to those feelings of dis-association. I hit the bottom of that spiral a while back, and feel like I'm rebounding out of that canyon of detachment and dis-engagement. Others feel the way you do, Kathy. I hope if you want to you will climb back to the surface of the Former You.
For me at least, personal memories are very sketchy. Some people can remember, in cinematic detail, numerous episodes from their childhoods. I am quite envious of this ability, since my childhood memories are a shockingly few "snapshot" images of places, people, and events. I wish all this forgetting had made me more creative, but alas it hasn't. Good article, Fred! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
[edit] As usual I forgot to add something, a phrase that describes my mental filing system all too well: When your memory goes, forget it!
So I guess then, to the distinction between semantic versus episodic memory, the former is above average, and you say the latter is frail and faint. I wonder, to what if any degree, such ways of being-thinking-knowing are present at birth? And to what extent might they be more nurtural? Hmm.
Hmm, indeed <smile>! As to emotions helping strengthen memories, sometimes the opposite may be true, I think. When I was 7, I underwent a traumatic family event (as my mother recounted to me much later--and the details don't matter here) which I completely erased from my memory. Memory is quite a slippery thing!
Love this post on so many levels. And I'd add to Tim's complication another one: emotion may help us remember something, while irrevocably morphing what that something was. Not always in an unhelpful way. Maybe episodic memory needs an author (then) and a narrator (now), and, at least in part, emotion itself plays both those roles. To the extent that one can resemble the other — I feel now something like what I felt then — emotion serves as the string between the cans, a conduit that's clunky but sweet.
Absolutely, see https://irishtechnews.ie/brain-science-embodied-consciousness/ for interesting speculation and science suggesting (rightly I think) that consciousness has come about as a way of real-izing and remembering and then acting on emotions--especially those emotions that have immediate survival value. Fear. Dread. Anxiety. Hunger. But then in higher form of consciousness: Hope. Affection. Empathy. and Love.
Well said! Ann