The original face of artificial consciousness, Max Headroom.
Artificial consciousness is a subset of artificial intelligence research, specifically concerned with the goal of producing man-made devices with consciousness. Although some like Gerald Edelman, and Graeme E. Smith think it should be more a form of applied Neuroscience. Gerald Edelman's theory of biological consciousness emphasized the dependence of consciousness on memory. If Edelman's theory is correct, then artificial consciousness should be possible if artificial intelligence researchers can replicate in electronic circuits those kinds of memory systems that exist in human brains.
Jerry Fodor in "The Mind Doesn't Work That Way", suggested that the nature of neural
networks made the implementation of a memory capable of discreet selection of memory difficult if not impossible.
By working within the constraints suggested by Jerry Fodor and building on a background that includes many A.I. concepts and Soft Computing techniques, and by avidly searching for evidence in neuroscience as to how the brain actually works, Graeme E.Smith has come up with a Dual Mode Cortex hypothesis, that attempts to capture the function of Isocortical Tissues in the brain, and defines just such a neural network based memory capable of both implicit and discrete memory functions. While experiments to support this hypothesis are still being considered, evidence so far collected seems to indicate that a proof might be possible. Graeme E. Smith has suggested that a new protoscience called Histo-Psychology be created to study how nervous tissues affect psychology.
Graeme E. Smith holds that it is the juxtaposition of Memory, Attention, and Control/Regulation Mechanisms that is the most influential aspect necessary for Artificial Consciousness.
Some philosophers question the possibility of verifying that anyone or anything besides yourself is conscious. It may be possible to use nanotechnology or brain scanning techniques to gain at least partial access to the contents of consciousness in another person or man-made device. This might make it possible to partially share consciousness between two conscious individuals.
See also[]
- quantum consciousness
- Wikipedia article on artificial consciousness.
- Wikibook on consciousness
- An attempt to deconstruct philosophical intuitions about consciousness as exemplified in Ned Block's dualistic account of consciousness.
- Wikiversity "GreySmith Institute" portal discussing Artificial Consciousness
- Wikiversity Artificial Consciousness Course
- Wikiversity Discussions on Artficial Consciousness