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Artificial-intelligence systems such as large language models (LLMs) can exhibit behaviour that seems strikingly intelligent. This has led many people, including some experts, to wonder whether these systems could have some form of consciousness — the capacity for subjective experience. However, we think that existing AI systems are not conscious, and that, along current trajectories of development, they are not likely to become conscious. Greater clarity about whether AI could become consciousness will be crucial as society grapples with the challenges posed by this increasingly powerful technology.

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[-] Epp@lemmus.org 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

That's an arbitrary distinction, and a short-sighted one in my humble opinion.

That depends entirely on whether there are any AI currently configured to self-learn, have asynchronous processing, and continual real-time input. Certainly not ChatGPT nor Claude will be self sufficient, but that's only what is available for the public to interact with.

No, you missed the point entirely. Intelligence does not derive from the material - at all. It comes from the structure the material is in.

[-] edible_funk@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 week ago

Intelligence does not derive from the material - at all. It comes from the structure the material is in.

Prove that please. There's probably a Nobel at least in it for you if you can.

[-] Epp@lemmus.org 1 points 1 week ago

Probably! I don't know how it would be proven.

Maybe when tissue printers are precise enough to create cellular structure, and it can be duplicated in both physical and digital equivalents, then compared? I don't even have a regular 3D Printer, let alone one that can print tissue.

Maaaaybe if I ever get rich, I'll do it on a whim, but no promises. Due to solipsism, and the state of the world, my level of commitment to the future has been very loosey goosey the past five years.

[-] edible_funk@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 week ago

So your whole position is based entirely on an assumption?

[-] Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world -4 points 1 week ago

So by your definition, a book is intelligent?

You're missing the point that computers will NEVER be intelligent. Without lines of code that humans made and tweak, computers wont do anything.

I'm quite done arguing at this point. The pure ignorance on science and biology is quite sad.

[-] FoolHen@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Just read the interaction, and honestly you are the one being obtuse and insulting with "go to school" and stuff like that. Like the other guy insulted you by having an opinion. You disagree? Fair. But man, what a horrible way to discuss.

And I think his arguments are better than yours. He's talking about intelligence and you keep talking about being alive. Scientists and philosophers don't even agree how to define and confine intelligence, or even what being alive is (see viruses). Claiming that computers can't be intelligent is quite the statement. Is being carbon based instead of silicon a requirement? I don't think LLMs will ever be intelligent, but who's to say that another form of computing won't? What if they simulate exactly a brain and it's inputs? You could argue it's not alive, but definitely intelligent.

You could have your opinion, but don't pretend you have the answer.

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 1 week ago

computers will NEVER be intelligent. Without lines of code that humans made and tweak, computers wont do anything.

You're basically saying a computer cannot be intelligent because it doesn't have a soul. There is absolutely no scientific rigor in your argument, you're basically saying you're right, and your reason for believing your right, is because you believe you are.

[-] Epp@lemmus.org 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

A book is not intelligent. It's matter is not arranged in a structure that allows for the flow of information through it, changing it as it does, and resulting in any output information, determined by the route of signals of information passed through the structure in it's current arrangement. With self correction to reach the optimal output to the external entity which is supplying the primary input parameters.

That is what is required. It's a matter of arrangement, not material. You need self learning/training, real time input, and output that reliably varies on the input parameters. If you've created that, you've duplicated the exact behavior of all life. Whether you've done it in meat neurons, transistor-batch neurons, or any other method of arranging units, of any arrangement of matter, such that it results in granular output of positive/negative signals.

"Intelligence" is an inelegant word to describe autonomous, self correcting and ameliorating structure. It's not some nebulous spiritual existence that permeates an unknown location within that structure. It is the structure - the precise, exact arrangements of neurons that connect, fire positively and negatively, rearrange when self-learning corrects the state of the structure, and it results in informational output that anything external can interact with and judge.

[-] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I sincerely intend no offense with this comment, but as someone observing this conversation, the other people involved clearly understand it more in depth than you do. You aren't really responding to their arguments, and yours aren't very strong. I think you should reevaluate this conversation-- try to more rigorously define the terms you are using and understand the arguments other people are making before insulting them. You feel strongly that the other people are wrong because you intuitively seem so obviously correct, but if you are truly correct then you should be able to understand in detail why you are right and they are wrong. I suspect you are arguing so vehemently because you believe it is obviosuly correct than LLMs are not conscious; you may be happy to know that the others here are not arguing that they are, but that what can or cannot be conscious is not determined by the materials they are made of.

this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2026
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