Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagRobert J. Marks

COSM2022-Nov10-174A0082-bob-marks***compressed
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
March 20, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Robert J. Marks on Fox News

Dr. Marks talked about the hype over AI and where the danger really lies
Peter Biles
March 20, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

Robert J. Marks, director of the Walter Bradley Center, was the subject of a new op-ed at Fox News, which featured his unique insights on artificial intelligence and how it can best be used by human beings. Contrary to much of the present alarmism over AI systems like ChatGPT, Marks remains level-headed about AI’s place in today’s world, pushing back against “sci-fi” apocalypticism while at the same time addressing real issues and concerns. Marks said, “No, AI is not going to take over. You’re not going to be its pet in the future. It’s going to be a tool which disrupts society, but we’re still going to be in charge. -Scott Whitlock, AI expert warns of too much ‘hype’: Humans Read More ›

woman reading book
a woman is reading a book and holding coffee
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 17, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , , ,

ChatGPT and Personal Consciousness

AI vs. the human voice in literature and the arts
News
March 17, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture

This week, Peter Biles, Writer & Editor for Discovery Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, wrote a piece for Salvo on ChatGPT and the uniqueness of the human voice in literature and the arts. Biles cites Christina Bieber Lake, professor of English at Wheaton College, from her book Beyond the Story: American Literary Fiction and the Limits of Materialism. Bieber Lake pushes back against the reductionistic worldview of Darwinistic materialism, appealing to the personal nature of the human being and the relationships we share together. Since a computer fails to practice personal consciousness, it also fails to create meaningful literature, which always involves two persons––one person speaking to another. Biles also cites Robert J. Marks’s essential book on the topic Read More ›

retro-wave-80s-computer-all-in-one-illuminated-by-neon-light-isolated-on-black-stockpack-adobe-stock
Retro wave 80s computer all-in-one illuminated by neon light isolated on black
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 17, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , ,

AI is Old News, Says Tech Consultant

AI actually dates back to the 1950s. It is not new, says Funk
News
March 17, 2023
1

This week, Robert J. Marks sat down with technology consultant and retired professor Jeffrey Funk, who contributes often to Mind Matters, usually in tandem with Gary Smith. Marks and Funk talked about tech startups, where the industry is headed, and the exaggerated hype that currently attends the discourse over AI. Funk talked about the various stages of AI development. “AI is not new,” he said. AI is 70 years old. ChatGPT and other generative AI models are based on neural networks, which have become economical through Moore’s Law, through this incredible increase in computing power that has been going on since the 1950s. But it’s slowed dramatically. -Jeffrey Funk, Jeffrey Funk on AI, Startups, and Big Tech | Mind Matters Read More ›

chatgpt-chat-concept-ai-artificial-intelligence-businessman-using-technology-smart-robot-ai-enter-command-prompt-contact-for-business-information-analysis-futuristic-technology-transformation-stockpack-adobe-stock
ChatGPT Chat concept AI, Artificial Intelligence. businessman using technology smart robot AI, enter command prompt, contact for business information analysis, Futuristic technology transformation.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks and Jeffrey Funk
Date
March 16, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Jeffrey Funk on AI, Startups, and Big Tech

Robert J. Marks and Jeffrey Funk
March 16, 2023
1

In this podcast episode, technology consultant and author Jeffrey Funk joins Robert J. Marks to talk about the artificial intelligence industry, how it’s used by Big Tech, and AI’s exaggerated hype.  How do we respond to AI when technology is changing every year? Additional Resources

human rights
Circle of paper people holding hands on pink surface. Community, brotherhood concept. Society and support.
Type
post
Author
Richard W. Stevens
Date
March 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Love Thy Robot as Thyself

Academics worry about AI feelings, call for AI rights
Richard W. Stevens
March 13, 2023
6
Artificial Intelligence

Riffing on the popular fascination with AI (artificial intelligence) systems ChatGPT and Bing Chat, two authors in the Los Angeles Times recently declared: We are approaching an era of legitimate dispute about whether the most advanced AI systems have real desires and emotions and deserve substantial care and solicitude. The authors, Prof. Eric Schwitzgebel at UC Riverside, and Henry Shevlin, a senior researcher at the University of Cambridge, observed AI thinkers saying “large neural networks” might be “conscious,” the sophisticated chatbot LaMDA “might have real emotions,” and ordinary human users reportedly “falling in love” with chatbot Replika.  Reportedly, “some leading theorists contend that we already have the core technological ingredients for conscious machines.”  The authors argue that if or when Read More ›

brain-psychology-mind-soul-and-hope-concept-art-3d-illustration-surreal-artwork-imagination-painting-conceptual-idea-stockpack-adobe-stock
Brain psychology mind soul and hope concept art, 3d illustration, surreal artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 9, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Blake Lemoine and Robert J. Marks on the Mind Matters Podcast

Marks and Lemoine discuss sentience in AI and the question of the soul
News
March 9, 2023
1
Artificial Intelligence

Robert J. Marks, director of the Walter Bradley Center for Natural & Artificial Intelligence, sat down with former Google employee Blake Lemoine, who made headlines last year when he claimed AI can be “sentient.” The claim also led to his departure from Google. The two had a fascinating conversation, to say the least. In today’s episode, they discuss whether AI can indeed become sentient, the non-computability of certain human traits, and the question of the soul. Marks and Lemoine couldn’t differ more on these fundamental points. Whereas Lemoine thinks AI can be sentient, Marks firmly rejects such a notion. In addition, Lemoine’s materialistic worldview controls his understanding of the brain, while Marks defends the existence of the immaterial mind. While Read More ›

digital-fractal-realms-stockpack-adobe-stock
Digital Fractal Realms
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
March 9, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blake Lemoine and the LaMDA Question

Robert J. Marks
March 9, 2023
1

In this continuation of last week’s conversation, ex-Googler Blake Lemoine tells Robert J. Marks what originally got him interested in AI: reading the science fiction of Isaac Asimov as a boy in rural Louisiana. The two go on to discuss and debate sentience in AI, non-computable traits of human beings, and the question of the soul. Additional Resources

mature-woman-having-scones-with-orange-jam-stockpack-adobe-stock
Mature woman having scones with orange jam
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
March 7, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

AI and “Qualia,” the Ability to Experience

Robert J. Marks writes on AI's limits in new article at Salvo
Peter Biles
March 7, 2023
3
Artificial Intelligence

Robert J. Marks wrote an article for the Spring Issue of Salvo Magazine on AI, covering his ideas on its “non-computability” in the areas of love, empathy, and creativity. The Quality of Qualia I was particularly intrigued by Marks’s thoughts on qualia, a term used to describe the multifaceted realm of sensory experience. We often report on AI’s inability to be creative here at Mind Matters, but what about experiencing the world through touch, smell, and sight? Qualia is related to the mystery of consciousness, another non-computable feature of human life, and according to Marks, is far out of the purview of AI capabilities. Marks writes about the experience of biting into an orange as an example: If the experience Read More ›

earth-at-night-from-outer-space-with-city-lights-on-north-america-continent-3d-rendering-illustration-earth-map-texture-provided-by-nasa-energy-consumption-electricity-industry-ecology-concepts-stockpack-adobe-stock
Earth at night from outer space with city lights on North America continent. 3D rendering illustration. Earth map texture provided by Nasa. Energy consumption, electricity, industry, ecology concepts.
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
March 3, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

Robert J. Marks on The Laura Ingraham Show

In response to those who believe AI will take over the world, Marks says, "Look at history."
Peter Biles
March 3, 2023
3
Artificial Intelligence

Robert J. Marks, director of Discovery Institute’s Walter Bradley Center, recently appeared on a podcast episode with Fox News host Laura Ingraham to talk about artificial intelligence, tech, and Dr. Marks’s book Non-Computable You: What You Do That AI Never Will. Ingraham prefaced the conversation with some thoughts on the rapidly evolving technological world we find ourselves in, and the changes such developments are inflicting on society. In response to the futurism and unbounded optimism in AI systems like ChatGPT that many modern figures hold, Marks said that what computers do is strictly algorithmic, This leads us to the idea of whether or not there are non-computable characteristics of human beings, and I think there is growing evidence that there Read More ›

touching chatbot
Chatbot computer program designed for conversation with human users over the Internet. Support and customer service automation technology concept.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
March 2, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

A Chat with Blake Lemoine on Google and AI Sentience

Robert J. Marks
March 2, 2023
1

Former Google employee Blake Lemoine claimed that the Large Language Model LaMDA was a sentient being. The claim got him fired. In this episode, Lemoine sits down with Robert J. Marks to discuss AI, what he was doing at Google, and why he believes artificial intelligence can be sentient.   Additional Resources

cyborg eye
Human android cyborg eye futuristic control protection personal internet security access.Concept robot dna system, future scientific technology innovation science. Blue polygonal vector
Type
post
Author
Peter Biles
Date
February 28, 2023
Categorized
Arts & Culture
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

Klara and the Sun: A Review

The sci-fi bestseller asks us: can machines become humans?
Peter Biles
February 28, 2023
5
Arts & Culture

Klara and the Sun is novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s latest novel, a dystopian story told through the lens of an “artificial friend” (AF) named Klara. Ishiguro is known for his provocative speculative fiction, including the novels Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day. Klara and the Sun similarly alludes to a dark, post-industrial, futuristic world, but it is told through the innocent lens of an artificial mind, highlighting the vestiges of human behavior and brokenness in ways that perhaps an “ordinary” narrator might not be able to manage. The novel starts out with Klara on display in a store waiting to be purchased. Eventually, she’s chosen by a girl named Josie and her mother, and thus begins her Read More ›

robot soldier
Armed super soldier with supersonic gun in the cyber city. cyberpunk city. cyborg. Robot. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 28, 2023
Categorized
Robotics
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

“It All Comes Down to Ethics”

Robert J. Marks interviewed for recent article on "killer robots"
News
February 28, 2023
1
Robotics

Robert J. Marks and his book The Case for Killer Robots: Why America’s Military Needs to Continue Development of Lethal AI were mentioned in a Fortune Magazine article by Jacob Carpenter, which discussed the issue of robotic and AI-controlled weapons in police and military forces. Marks was interviewed for the article and his phrase “in the end, it comes down to the ethics” was also featured in the article’s title. The article weighs different perspectives on weaponized AI and whether this is the direction the country is headed in the future. Marks notes the parallels with the gun rights issue in the debate over weaponized robots. The issue will inevitably extend to the question of AI deploying firearms, not just Read More ›

Screenshot 2023-02-24 133413 Robert Marks take 2
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 24, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

Robert J. Marks Appears On “The Agenda”

Watch Dr. Marks engage with two leading artificial intelligence thinkers on "The Agenda"
News
February 24, 2023
1
Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Robert J. Marks, director of the Walter Bradley Center, appeared on a segment of “The Agenda” recently to speak on the topic of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT. He was joined with Melanie Mitchell of the Sante Fe Institute and MIT’s Max Tegmark. Hosted by Steve Paikin, the three discussed the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human in a technological age, as well as the perennial question of consciousness. You can watch the entire conversation on YouTube: Dr. Marks had the opportunity to discuss some of the key themes he discusses in his book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will, contending that AI, while it has benefits, does not Read More ›

gambling-table-in-luxury-casino-stockpack-adobe-stock
Gambling table in luxury casino
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 23, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Winning and Losing Strategies for Casino Gambling

Robert J. Marks
February 23, 2023
1

Can you beat casinos at their own game? Sometimes. Don Johnson beat Atlantic City casinos for over $15 million during a six-month period in 2011. Find out the ins and outs of casino gambling and card counting as Robert J. Marks interviews gambling expert Sal Cordova. In this intriguing podcast, you will discover how artificial intelligence plays poker, the strategies Read More ›

human eye
close up view of human eye looking away in darkness, panoramic shot
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 21, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , ,

“Non-Computable You” Reviewed in The Federalist

Marks explains what makes human beings unique, and therefore why no computer will ever match all human capabilities.
News
February 21, 2023
1
Artificial Intelligence

Dr. Robert J. Marks’ book Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will got a shout-out and a well-written review over at The Federalist today. David Weinberger writes, Ever wonder whether computers will one day be capable of doing everything that human beings can? If so, pick up the recent book by engineer and computer scientist Dr. Robert J. Marks: “Non-Computable You: What You Do That Artificial Intelligence Never Will.” Marks explains what makes human beings unique, and therefore why no computer will ever match all human capabilities. To be sure, computers excel humans at many tasks — but only tasks that are “algorithmic,” or that entail step-by-step instructions to complete, such as calculating probabilities, retrieving information, or Read More ›

revival
Arms raised in worship
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 21, 2023
Categorized
Addiction, Social Media
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Asbury Revival and the Cure for TikTok

In the age of social media addiction, young people need to know they can be imperfect and yet loved
Robert J. Marks
February 21, 2023
3
Addiction, Social Media

Social media portrays a world where everybody is happy and having a good time. Everybody, of course, except for you. There must therefore be something wrong with you. You are a loser. Teenage boys without girlfriends feel like social freaks. One in three teenage girls who use social media suffers from  body image issues   Social Media and Depression Young adults who use social media are three times as likely to suffer from depression. Depression can lead to suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, female suicides aged 15-24 increased by 87 percent over the past 20 years and male suicides increased by 30 percent. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry says suicide is now Read More ›

victim-boy-with-hands-tied-up-with-rope-in-emotional-stress-and-pain-kidnapped-abused-hostage-stop-violence-against-children-and-trafficking-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Victim boy with hands tied up with rope in emotional stress and pain, kidnapped, abused, hostage, Stop violence against children and trafficking Concept.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 16, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , ,

More Porn = More Trafficking

Robert J. Marks
February 16, 2023
1

Robert J. Marks and Charlie Crockett discuss how the normalization of online pornography is connected with sex trafficking and abuse. In fact, the two industries are inextricably linked. They also discuss how military communications are affected by the widespread use of porn because of the high demand for spectrum (a limited resource). Additional Resources

Jesus-and-AI
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 13, 2023
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

Artificial Intelligence and the Love of Jesus

The "He Gets Us" video ends with the declaration "Jesus' love was never artificial"
Robert J. Marks
February 13, 2023
2
Artificial Intelligence

How does artificial intelligence deal with the teachings of Jesus Christ? Apparently quite well in some cases.   Super Bowl ads this year included two about Jesus from the ministry He Gets Us.  There are more thought-provoking videos at their web site HeGetsUs.com. One, linked here, is about AI.  An artificial intelligence image synthesizer  Midjourney was asked by He Gets It to generate images about love from simple text prompts. The video shows generated images using software from the company Midjourney. When prompted to synthesize an image from the prompt “love”,  the response was pictures containing hearts – the kind you might see on a cheesy valentine day’s card.   Then the AI was asked to  visualize love the way Read More ›

spy balloon
Meteorological probe drone on white balloon on sky. Concept secret espionage and climate change monitoring. Generation AI
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 13, 2023
Categorized
China
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , ,

China Balloons, EMP’s and Bioweapons: A Chilling Possibility

One nuclear burst 250 miles above Kansas could damage most of the power grid
Robert J. Marks
February 13, 2023
3
China

No one has mentioned that the China balloon recently shot down after sailing across the United States could have been weaponized with a bomb or bioweapons. Thankfully, it was not. A single nuclear burst 250 miles above Kansas could destabilize much if not most of the US power grid. Almost the entire country, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada, would be affected by the resulting EMP (electromagnetic pulse). 250 miles above the Earth is about as high as the US Space Station is from Earth. Potential military threats from outer space was a prime motivation for creating the United States Space Force in 2019.   The China balloon was not 250 miles up required for a coast-to-coast EMP Read More ›

social-media-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Social media concept.
Type
podcast
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 9, 2023
Tagged
, , , , , , , ,

Social Media’s Role in Human Trafficking

Robert J. Marks
February 9, 2023
1

Robert J. Marks and Charlie Crockett continue their conversation on the sad reality of human trafficking. In this episode, they focus particularly on how social media has become a place where predators will search and highlight children’s vulnerabilities — which so many young people share online. Marks and Crockett encourage parents to develop relationships of trust with their children and Read More ›