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Three reasons why "AI" is not conscious and perhaps never will be (www.nature.com)
submitted 1 week ago by technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
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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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[-] edible_funk@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

It would not come remotely close to approximating our brains, in any way. This exhibits a lack of understanding of both LLMs and how our brains function.

[-] Epp@lemmus.org 2 points 1 week ago

That's a valid opinion, but it is the opposite of mine. Agree to amicably disagree?

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

I'd like to know what evidence you have to support your position. I'm sure true artificial intelligence is theoretically possible but existing LLMs and other models cannot be that, not while maintaining a definition of intelligence that at all implies "like us" which is the only really useful definition.

[-] Epp@lemmus.org 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Just insight and intuition gained from twelve years of post-graduate study at Universities, including a MSc in Machine Learning.

I'm not sure "like us" is something that is quantifiable. I'm of the belief that treating we meat automatons as anything special is hubris. We're finite state machines, acting on information input from our senses, making decisions, and outputting information in the form of activating biological apparatus. Swap physical for digital, and LLMs are indeed capable of aping all of our behavior.

this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2026
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