Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryArtificial Intelligence

three-friendly-happy-playing-dogs-in-summer-park-german-shepherd-american-staffordshire-terrier-and-french-bulldog-holding-one-stick-different-dog-breeds-have-fun-together-stockpack-adobe-stock
Three friendly happy playing dogs in summer park. German shepherd, american staffordshire terrier and french bulldog holding one stick. Different dog breeds have fun together.

Will AI Soon Help Animals Talk To Us?

Many animals have a natural tendency to hide their problems for self-protection. AI trained on massive animal datasets might suss them out

That doesn’t mean we can “talk to the animals.” AI can do a lot of things but it won’t give animals rational faculties that it does not have itself.

Read More ›
plain-blank-detailed-dic-micrograph-of-a-single-celled-phacus-pleuronectes-euglenid-displaying-its-distinct-striated-pellicle-whip-like-flagellum-eyespot-paramylon-body-and-chloroplasts-stockpack-adobe-stock
plain blank Detailed DIC micrograph of a single-celled Phacus pleuronectes euglenid displaying its distinct striated pellicle, whip-like flagellum, eyespot, paramylon body, and chloroplasts

Dembski Asks the Chatbot: Is Intelligent Design Testable?

ChatGPT4o’s tour through the internet on the topic suggests that there may be some improvement in rational discussion out there

Many of the people who produce the material that the bot encounters desperately want to find ET and don’t want to find design. It still shows.

Read More ›
upset-senior-elderly-man-holding-credit-card-by-laptop-having-trouble-worry-finance-safety-data-or-online-payment-security-bank-client-concerned-about-problem-with-credit-card-financial-fraud-threat-stockpack-adobe-stock
Upset senior elderly man holding credit card by laptop having trouble worry finance safety data or online payment security. Bank client concerned about problem with credit card, financial fraud threat

Interpol Crackdown: Have You Been Scammed on Social Media Too?

Some details of the law enforcement release hint at the intimate reach of international online crime as well as its broad scope

It’s not that you’re naive. Rather, it is much easier than it used to be to fake up all kinds of things using social media — much easier than hacking computers.

Read More ›
crashing-ocean-wave-with-view-inside-the-wave-stockpack-adobe-stock
Crashing Ocean Wave with view inside the wave

New Podcast Asks, Is the World Really Enchanted—or Disenchanted?

At Created Souls and The Banquet of Souls, I want to explore the fact that human consciousness is not about to be made obsolete by AI or explained away by neuroscience

The tide is turning. The idea that science will soon explain away human consciousness is ceasing to be a live discussion. Let’s hear the new discussions!

Read More ›
data-analysis-science-and-big-data-with-ai-technology-analyst-or-scientist-uses-a-computer-and-dashboard-for-analysis-of-information-on-complex-data-sets-on-computer-insights-development-engineer-stockpack-adobe-stock
Data analysis science and big data with AI technology. Analyst or Scientist uses a computer and dashboard for analysis of information on complex data sets on computer. Insights development engineer

Can AI Replace Science? Gary Smith and Jeffrey Funk Say No

At Fast Company, they explain some of the real problems with mistaking hype for results

The everyday reality is more like this: AI speeds up many tedious processes but doesn’t replace creative thinking.

Read More ›
a-pile-of-shovels-and-forks-laying-on-the-ground-stockpack-unsplash
a pile of shovels and forks laying on the ground

AI Is Still a Delusion

Following instructions and performing fast, tireless, error-free calculations is not intelligence in any meaningful sense of the word

Not knowing what words mean, neither OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 nor Microsoft’s Copilot nor Google’s Gemini can do a simple logic test.

Read More ›
humanoid-ai-robot-assists-old-senior-woman-in-her-household-serving-drink-and-food-replacing-human-caregiver-stockpack-adobe-stock
humanoid AI robot assists old senior woman in her household. serving drink and food, replacing human caregiver

Why AI Will Not and Cannot Think Our Thoughts

How can a robot ever have a spiritual vision of reality? How can it even be emotional?

Could an android at a child’s funeral read the mourners’ thoughts and emotions? Or would it view the death as a mere rearrangement of atoms in a wooden box?

Read More ›
microscopic-view-inside-a-human-cell-science-biology-anatomy-microscopic-cellular-organelles-nucleus-cytoplasm-stockpack-adobe-stock
Microscopic view inside a human cell, science, biology, anatomy, microscopic, cellular, organelles, nucleus, cytoplasm

Will a Machine Ever Behave Like a Life Form?

A theoretical biologist developed a mathematical theory in 1991— so far not disproven — that a machine could not replicate life via calculations

The “strange loop” of life — a loop with no apparent beginning in non-life — was, Robert Rosen concluded, beyond the reach of computing.

Read More ›
empty-wooden-table-top-with-bokeh-lights-in-blur-restaurant-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
Empty wooden table top with bokeh lights in blur restaurant background.

Apple Vision Pro, Part 2: When Other People Are Not Fully There

The immersive nature of Vision Pro seems formative in a different way than computers or phones

The false sense of vision, connection, control, and spirituality remain, and are even more evident as people are starting to use and study the device’s impact.

Read More ›
the-young-man-stands-on-the-crowdy-street-stockpack-adobe-stock
The young man stands on the crowdy street

How My World Looked Inside Apple Vision Pro

I felt everything the script intended for me to feel. But I left with a lot of questions

What happens when people perceive reality differently? Will our painfully divided culture will be even more fractured?

Read More ›
a-digital-tablet-casting-a-hologram-of-a-chatbot-icon-symbolizing-advanced-customer-service-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
A digital tablet casting a hologram of a chatbot icon, symbolizing advanced customer service technology.

Is It Sinking In? Chatbots Will *Not* Soon Think Like Humans

Tech writer Gary Marcus: Even futurist Ray Kurzweil, a fount of optimism on the topic, is sounding less sure now

Problems like model collapse, hallucination and innumeracy may be inherent in chatbots, which would curtail progress toward thinking like humans.

Read More ›
robot-hand-typing-on-the-computer-the-concept-of-artificial-intelligence-replacing-a-human-in-dealing-with-another-human-ai-generative-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot hand typing on the computer. The concept of artificial intelligence replacing a human in dealing with another human. Ai generative

Marvin Minsky Asks: Can GPT4 Hack Itself? 

Will AI of the future be able to count the number of objects in an image?

Creativity and understanding, properly defined, lie beyond the capability of the computers of today and tomorrow.

Read More ›
cute-artificial-intelligence-robot-with-notebook-stockpack-adobe-stock
cute artificial intelligence robot with notebook

Researchers: Chatbots Generally Flunk Simple Logic Test

From Futurism we learn “when asked to show their work, the AIs would detail bizarre and erroneous lines of "thinking" that made no sense”

The AI researchers report “a dramatic breakdown of function and reasoning capabilities of state-of-the-art models trained at the largest available scales”.

Read More ›
tyrannosaurus-rex-walks-alone-into-cold-lake-art-design-stockpack-adobe-stock
tyrannosaurus rex walks alone into cold lake, art design

Paleoartists — Artists for Dinosaurs — Confront Generative AI

Generative AI cannot yet combine science-level accuracy and sensitivity to artistic issues but it is starting to have an impact anyway.

The paleoartists’ copyright dilemma is one element of the general problem of how to compensate original creators when work is repurposed in AI-generated output.

Read More ›
a-robotic-hand-flawlessly-scribing-intricate-algorithms-a-fusion-of-precision-and-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
A robotic hand flawlessly scribing intricate algorithms, a fusion of precision and technology.

Writers Are Getting Fired for…Not Using ChatGPT?

AI detectors aren't totally accurate, and the cost is steep for the writing industry

Even though writers wanted nothing to do with the chatbots, their work is still being flagged by detectors. And it’s literally costing them their jobs.

Read More ›
text-written-with-a-vintage-typewriter-thats-my-story-stockpack-adobe-stock
Text written with a vintage typewriter -  That's my story

How Do Writers Get Paid in an Age When Chatbots “Write” Things?

Are lawsuits against Big Tech really the answer? Much of the territory is uncharted

A few Big Tech players control the chatbot market. Could bargaining with them for something like Public Lending Right resolve the writers’ issues?

Read More ›
two-programers-holding-laptop-with-coding-interface-walking-towards-desk-and-sitting-down-talking-about-online-cloud-computing-software-developers-team-discussing-algorithms-on-computer-screen-stockpack-adobe-stock
Two programers holding laptop with coding interface walking towards desk and sitting down talking about online cloud computing. Software developers team discussing algorithms on computer screen.

Will AI Replace Developers? A Tale for Our Times

There are calls, even about software, that you would definitely not want a digital assistant to take

Developers don’t just write software; they must understand the whole picture of how it will be used both now and down the road.

Read More ›
global-computer-network-communication-internet-business-and-marketing-concept-blue-transparent-earth-globe-on-laptop-keyboard-macro-view-stockpack-adobe-stock
Global computer network communication, internet business and marketing concept, blue transparent Earth globe on laptop keyboard macro view

How Ancient Philosophers Can Help Design Better Computers

The Kubernetes program, for example, steers groups of computers the way, in the ancient image, a navigator steers a ship

The program works a bit like our minds, creating information in the world around us by constant comparison, bringing order out of disorder.

Read More ›
man-hand-using-digital-chatbot-for-provide-access-to-information-and-data-in-online-networkartificial-intelligence-stockpack-adobe-stock
Man hand using digital chatbot for provide access to information and data in online network.Artificial intelligence.

But Can Chatbot Claude Keep Its Promise To Reform?

What will happen, after all of Grasso’s careful work, when a different user asks for arguments in favor of intelligent design?

Grasso showed that reform can happen but perhaps it comes down to a question of numbers. Who wants thoughtful discussion vs. new atheist blog rants?

Read More ›
person-is-looking-for-way-out-of-psychedelic-maze-a-surreal-labyrinth-in-magical-forest-human-consciousness-is-at-dead-end-searching-for-solutions-created-with-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Person is looking for way out of psychedelic maze. A surreal labyrinth in magical forest. Human consciousness is at dead end, searching for solutions. Created with Generative AI

From a Philosopher: Philosophy of Consciousness Is “Bizarre”

Eric Schwitzgebel admits to his host at Closer to Truth that “every single view in the history of the philosophy of mind is bizarre”…

He blames our “folk intuitions” for the problem. Some thinkers would say that the problem arises from seeking a materialist solution to an immaterial reality.

Read More ›