Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryArtificial Intelligence

robot-with-glass-laptop-stockpack-adobe-stock
robot with glass laptop
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post
Author
William A. Dembski
Date
September 21, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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ChatGPT is Getting More Impressive

Nonetheless, human intelligence remains qualitatively different from artificial intelligence.
William A. Dembski
September 21, 2023
12
Artificial Intelligence

A few months back I published two pieces (see here and here) where I was able to break ChatGPT4 (hereafter just ChatGPT). More recently I revisited some of the types of challenges I posed to it in the past that were able back then to break it. It handled the challenges with aplomb. The one challenge it still was unable to handle was finding patterns in numerical sequence, such as what is the next number after 2,4,6,8,… — this one is super easy, but more difficult ones that humans are well able to handle seem still beyond its capabilities, at least for now. Whether that ability can be trained into it remains to be seen, though the improvement I saw suggests that it Read More ›

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Robot production line at artificial intelligence factory, mass production of machines with metal skeleton. Generative AI.
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post
Author
News
Date
September 20, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Mythic AI is Dangerous

The evidence is inconclusive (at best) that AI could ever think or interact like a human being.
News
September 20, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

Computer scientist and tech entrepreneur Erik Larson recently launched a Substack account where he’ll be covering AI, tech, and human exceptionalism in the digital age. A new post from the channel discusses the dangers of “mythical AI” and how the evidence is inconclusive (at best) that AI could ever think or interact like a human being. Here’s an excerpt: In spite of the almost religious fervor about the mental powers of AI, we have at best inconclusive evidence that AI systems will get smart like humans—the so-called general intelligence attributed to us has so far proven entirely elusive for machines. It’s an open question whether future AI can really achieve general, or human-level, intelligence. To date, we have evidence that AI Read More ›

silhouettes-of-people-observing-stars-in-night-sky-astronomy-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Silhouettes of people observing stars in night sky. Astronomy concept.
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
September 16, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind
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Another Non-Computable Trait: Spiritual Longing

You can't program spiritual longing into a computer, not matter how savvy the algorithm.
Peter Biles
September 16, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind

What makes human beings unique, compared to say, a piece of granite? What distinguishes us from advanced artificial intelligence? Robert J. Marks has argued that several characteristics set us apart from the machines in his book Non-Computable You. This week, scientist Eric Hedin, citing from the classic thought of Anglo-Irish writer C.S. Lewis, adds another trait to the list: spiritual longing for something greater than the material. Hedin writes, If physical desires, such as hunger, rightly indicate that we were meant to be satisfied with food, then the longing for something that transcends even our most lavish experiences of abundance must also indicate an attainable fulfillment we have never yet tasted and without which we cannot be fully satisfied. Stated Read More ›

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The Cloud, AI illustration, Chat GPT
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post
Author
Jeffrey Funk
Date
September 15, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance

When will the AI-driven Productivity Revolution Begin?

Big corporations are slow to embrace AI tech
Jeffrey Funk
September 15, 2023
7
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance

Just a few months ago professors and big consulting firms were saying that Generative AI will increase the rate of productivity growth and raise unemployment, thus frightening some into calling for a pause in AI development. For instance, “Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute spearheaded an open letter calling for a pause in training the most powerful AI systems until researchers adopt a shared set of safety standards. Its 33,000 signatories include Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Yoshua Bengio, a computer scientist who won the Turing Prize for his pioneering work in AI. But now, a different message is appearing. A title from a WSJ article is: “AI Startup Buzz Is Facing a Reality Check,” because of declining usage Read More ›

COSM2022-Wed-174A9344-Peter-Thiel-George-Gilder
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post
Author
News
Date
September 14, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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AI: Intelligent, Conscious, or Merely Evil? 

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel addresses burning questions surrounding AI at last year's COSM conference
News
September 14, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

In today’s featured video, watch Peter Thiel from COSM 2022 speak on how we should think about artificial intelligence. Is it really intelligent and even conscious? And is it likely to be a force for good, or does it have the dangerous potential to control us? Listen in to learn more on this broad and often contentious topic. Peter Thiel is an internationally known venture capitalist and investor. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some Read More ›

3d-rendering-glowing-ai-artificial-intelligence-technology-chipset-cpu-on-circuit-board-electronic-and-technology-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
3D Rendering Glowing Ai artificial intelligence technology Chipset CPU on circuit board. electronic and technology Concept.
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post
Author
News
Date
September 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

AI as a System of Innovation

What sectors might AI transform in the future?
News
September 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

In today’s featured video from COSM 2022, Eric Schmidt explores the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) — from language to military applications, business, finance, energy, social media, and medicine. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings together some of the greatest minds of our time to explore how technology intersects with international competitiveness, investing, government regulation, freedom, and the triumph of the human spirit. The conference is targeted toward anyone seeking to peer into the future Read More ›

COSM2022-Nov10-174A0113-blake-lemoine-panel
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post
Author
News
Date
September 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Revisiting Marks, Lemoine, on AI and Consciousness

What is AI? In what sense can it be said to be "intelligent"? Could it ever be sentient, or conscious?
News
September 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

What is AI? In what sense can it be said to be “intelligent”? Could it ever be sentient, or conscious? In today’s video, a distinguished panel of artificial intelligence (AI) experts, include Blake Lemoine and Robert J. Marks, debates the meaning of artificial intelligence, what the future holds for its application (both positive and negative), and how far AI can be taken in terms of mimicking and even exceeding human capabilities. (REGISTER NOW FOR COSM 2023) COSM is an exclusive national summit on the converging technologies remaking the world as we know it. From artificial intelligence to 5G and WiFi6, from tokenized time to blockchain, from cloud computing to the quantum revolution, and from biotech to the nanotech revolution, COSM brings Read More ›

hand-of-businessman-using-smartphone-chatting-with-chat-bot-chat-with-ai-or-artificial-intelligence-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
Hand of businessman using smartphone chatting with chat bot, Chat with AI or Artificial Intelligence technology.
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post
Author
News
Date
September 11, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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ChatGPT is Losing Momentum

Is the "hype curve" starting to flatten out?
News
September 11, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT’s traffic has declined for the third month in a row, according to Reuters. The Large Language Model (LLM) AI tool took the world by storm in November of 2022 when it was released by OpenAI, posing questions of academic integrity, and urging a host of tech giants to incorporate LLMs into their own platforms and search engines. Anna Tong writes, Worldwide desktop and mobile website visits to the ChatGPT website decreased by 3.2% to 1.43 billion in August, following approximately 10% drops from each of the previous two months. The amount of time visitors spent on the website has also been declining monthly since March, from an average of 8.7 minutes on site to 7 minutes on site in Read More ›

alone-with-the-universe-stockpack-adobe-stock
Alone with the Universe
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post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 8, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 3)

The claim that all things are conscious (including AI) misunderstands the meaning of the term
David Hsing
September 8, 2023
5
Artificial Intelligence

Read parts one and two of the series to catch up to speed. I don’t subscribe to panpsychism, (a topic that has been popular in SA in recent years[26]), but even if panpsychism is true, the subsequent possible claim that “all things are conscious” is still false because it commits a fallacy of division. There is a difference in kind from everything to every single thing. The purported universal consciousness of panpsychism, if it exists, would not be of the same kind as the ordinary consciousness found in living entities. Some examples of such categorical differences: Johnny sings, but his kidneys don’t. Johnny sees, but his toenails don’t. Saying that a lamp is conscious in one sense of the word simply Read More ›

visualizatipon-of-human-consciousness-in-artificial-intelligence-process-of-thinking-robot-humanoid-android-on-dark-background-with-neurals-connection-created-with-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Visualizatipon of human consciousness in artificial intelligence, process of thinking robot. Humanoid android on dark background with neurals connection. Created with Generative AI
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post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 6, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 2)

A machine no more “does things on its own” than a catapult flings by itself.
David Hsing
September 6, 2023
11
Artificial Intelligence

Read part one of this article series here. The following segments are responses to specific categories of counterarguments against my thesis, which you can read in part one of this article HERE. Please note that these responses do not stand on their own and can only be seen as supporting my main arguments from the first part. Each response only applies to those who hold the corresponding objections. “You can’t provide proof of intentionality and qualia because they’re subjective” If your mind doesn’t possess intentionality, “the power of minds to be about, to represent, or to stand for, things, properties, and states of affairs,” then you wouldn’t be able to understand any word on this screen in front of you Read More ›

Robert J. Marks with Michael Medved
Robert J. Marks on Great Minds with Michael Medved
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post
Author
News
Date
September 6, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Revisiting “Non-Computable You”

New podcast episode reviews the key ideas and insights of the book "Non-Computable You"
News
September 6, 2023
1
Artificial Intelligence

If you’re a regular reader of Mind Matters, you’ve probably heard us applaud and discuss the book by computer scientist and professor Robert J. Marks, Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will. The book is well worth reading and sheds much needed insights on our current technological moment where AI is either seen as the “greatest thing ever” or the tool that will enslave and destroy humanity, Terminator style. However, if you’re more of an audiobook kind of person, maybe you’ll just want to listen to a new podcast episode in which Dr. Marks discusses the key themes of his book with various hosts. You can listen to the podcast or download it for free here: Why Read More ›

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AI, Machine learning, Hands of robot and human touching big data of Global network connection, Internet and digital technology, Science and artificial intelligence digital technologies of futuristic.
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post
Author
David Hsing
Date
September 4, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Artificial Consciousness Remains Impossible (Part 1)

The cherished fiction of conscious machines is an impossibility
David Hsing
September 4, 2023
12
Artificial Intelligence

This article is an attempt to explain why the cherished fiction of conscious machines is an impossibility. The very act of hardware and software design is a transmission of impetus as an extension of the designers and not an infusion of conscious will. The latter half of the article is dedicated to addressing counterarguments. Lastly, some implications of the title thesis are listed. Intelligence vs. Consciousness Intelligence is the ability of an entity to perform tasks, while consciousness refers to the presence of a subjective phenomenon. Intelligence[1]: “…the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one’s environment” Consciousness[2]: “When I am in a conscious mental state, there is something it is like for me to be in that state from the Read More ›

businessman-touching-on-smart-mobile-phone-for-input-wording-and-searching-from-web-browser-technology-with-copy-space-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Businessman touching on smart mobile phone for input wording and searching from web browser. Technology with copy space concept.
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
September 1, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Google + AI Feature = Chaos

Google SGE is producing nonsensical word salads. Is this really supposed to replace traditional search engines?
Peter Biles
September 1, 2023
3
Artificial Intelligence

“Even with access to all the information in the digital world, AI can still be very, very stupid,” writes Maggie Harrison at Futurism. She’s referencing Google’s AI search feature, Google SGE, that “doesn’t understand geography” or the alphabet. When Harrison and her peers noticed someone complain about a glitch in the AI search feature, which purported that there were no countries in Africa that started with the letter “K” (ahem, Kenya, anyone?) they decided to test it out for themselves. Sure enough, the verdict is in. Google’s AI doesn’t know how to parse out blatantly false information. Harrison writes, When asked to provide a list of “countries in North America that start with the letter M,” for instance, Google SGE Read More ›

man-face-detection-generate-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Man face detection. Generate Ai
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post
Author
News
Date
August 31, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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AI Can’t Bring Back the Dead

The more AI advances, the more tempting it will become to recreate those who have passed.
News
August 31, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

New speech AI technology is able to take just a couple seconds’ worth of audio and extrapolate on it to make complete sentences. Theoretically, scam artists could take a short video from TikTok and use it to impersonate an unsuspecting child. In fact, this has actually happened, and more than once. It’s easy to see how one could use speech AI to “resurrect” those who have passed away. And in fact, this too has already happened. In an essay titled “The Speech of the Dead: Against AI Necromancy,” David Walden writes how in 2020, the nonprofit Change the Ref made a video featuring Joaquin Oliver, who encouraged viewers in the clip to vote for gun control in the presidential election. The Read More ›

real-robots-hand-with-ancient-bible-concepts-of-artificial-intelligence-development-and-machine-learning-stockpack-adobe-stock
Real robot's hand with ancient Bible. Concepts of artificial intelligence development and machine learning
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
August 30, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion
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“Bible GPT” For All Your Big Religious Questions

Is it a tool or a big crossing of the line?
Peter Biles
August 30, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence, Religion

It’s not only Silicon Valley and other tech giants like Microsoft and Google who have scrambled, over the last ten months or so, to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into their respective spheres. Churches are apparently getting in on the ground floor, too. A new software called “Bible GPT,” a clear riff off of “ChatGPT,” has officially been released into the world. According to the website, Bible GPT is an AI enabled religious software to write Christian texts, essays, or personalized poetry. It also answers bible related questions. Bible GPT is the biggest step in AI technology, taking the Christian world by storm. It offers insights into what many Christians wish to know and clarity by answering their religious questions. Read More ›

the-death-of-socrates-stockpack-adobe-stock
The Death of Socrates
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post
Author
Russ White
Date
August 29, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Meet Mediocrates: When AI Does All the Heavy Mental Lifting

A satirical look at how depending on ChatGPT for everything will erode our cognitive skillsets
Russ White
August 29, 2023
3
Artificial Intelligence

Might I suggest a name for anyone building yet another Large Language Model (LLM)? Mediocrates would be a far more honest name than the ones big tech companies choose. Why Mediocrates? Who was Mediocrates? Legends say Mediocrates was Socrates’ younger brother. He was supposed to step in for Socrates when the great philosopher drank the cup of hemlock, but pursuing the truth was much too difficult. Instead, he decided to pursue practical knowledge and do so in the easiest way possible. Dear ChatGPT, Please Do All My Thinking for Me, Thanks! Mediocrates decided reading books so he could learn to build solid arguments and elegant writing skills was far too much trouble. It is easier to let a chatbot do Read More ›

trees-garden-and-plants-people-in-portrait-community-service-sustainability-collaboration-and-eco-friendly-project-gardening-sustainable-growth-and-happy-worker-in-teamwork-forest-or-nature-park-stockpack-adobe-stock
Trees, garden and plants people in portrait community service, sustainability collaboration and eco friendly project. Gardening, sustainable growth and happy worker in teamwork, forest or nature park
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
August 28, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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Against the Tyranny of Data

Computer scientist and tech entrepreneur Erik J. Larson is launching his own Substack channel dedicated to promoting human flourishing in the computer age
Peter Biles
August 28, 2023
4
Artificial Intelligence

Can everything be reduced to data? Are human beings just complicated data storage units waiting to be outclassed by artificial intelligence? A new Substack account from computer scientist and tech entrepreneur Erik J. Larson is setting out to promote something deeper and more complex than the reductionistic explanations so rampant in our culture today. He calls the Substack “Colligo,” taken from the Latin meaning “coming together.” “I want to show the problems with our data-driven world and show or assemble a richer humanistic picture,” writes Larson in his debut post. “Dataism is at odds with human flourishing. Data is just input into something else. If we are just data, then we are inputs into something else. It’s difficult to find Read More ›

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Portrait close up of one young beautiful attractive blonde young girl holding camera and taking selfie picture at the beach enjoying outdoors free time with sunset in the background.
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
August 26, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
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National Review: Let AI Take Over Social Media Influencing

AI influencers are revealing how vapid social media really is
Peter Biles
August 26, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

We’ve recently commented on the AI influencer phenomenon, which seems to be taking social media by storm. With advanced AI imaging, more AI influencers are popping up, and they already look comparable to the likes of Kim Kardashian. The social media influencing world depends on primarily women selling their bodies for revenue. Instagram has tended heavily in this direction, and with the advent of OnlyFans, the temptation to flaunt oneself so provocatively is tangible for many. National Review writer Haley Strack thinks that the AI influencer horde will out-compete real-life influencers and eventually rule out the need for humans at all. She writes, Some criticize AI for giving young men another possibly perverse, sexual outlet online — but men who Read More ›

humanoid-robot-artist-painting-a-portrait-on-a-canvas-in-an-artist-studio-showing-the-concept-of-science-and-artificial-intelligence-technology-computer-generative-ai-stock-illustration-image-stockpack-adobe-stock
Humanoid robot artist painting a portrait on a canvas in an artist studio showing the concept of science and artificial intelligence technology, computer Generative AI stock illustration image
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post
Author
News
Date
August 22, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

AI “Art” Can’t Be Copyrighted, Judge Rules

Copyright entails original, human creation, which AI images don't reflect
News
August 22, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

A federal judge has ruled that AI-generated artwork can’t legally be attributed to the person who prompted the work, according to The Verge. AI-generated artwork systems like DALL-E and Midjourney, despite their impressive capabilities, have sparked debate and legal controversies regarding the rights of artists and whether AI images should be treated as independent and original creations. For United States District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, AI art isn’t original and therefore can not be copyrighted. (RELATED: Will Stability AI Go Down in Court? | Mind Matters) In justifying her decision, Howell said that copyright always involves a human hand. Wes Davis reports, In her decision, Judge Howell wrote that copyright has never been granted to work that was “absent Read More ›

human-hand-shakes-artificial-intelligence-robotic-hand-concept-of-union-between-human-being-and-artificial-intelligence-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Human hand shakes artificial intelligence robotic hand, concept of union between human being and artificial intelligence, Generative AI
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post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
August 19, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality
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Artificial Intelligence: The Final Stage of Disembodiment?

The Internet invites a disembodied existence. Is AI the next step?
Peter Biles
August 19, 2023
6
Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality

Dr. Read Schuchardt, professor of communications at Wheaton College (IL), identifies five primary ways digital technology can erode our lives and relationships, or produce what he calls “vices of the virtual life”: Speaking of disembodiment, which he regards as perhaps the primary negative effect of virtual life, Schuchardt writes, On the phone, on the web, on the TV, you are simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. This creates a mind-body separation that both mimics death and parodies angels, eliminates the possibility of natural law, and allows you to become pure ‘information,’ simply wearing the corporate body as your own. -Read Schuchardt, Media, Journalism, and Communication, p. 56. I’ve found this to be true in my own experience; time online produces an inner Read More ›