Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagRobert J. Marks

earphones-and-mobile-phone-with-podcast-app-on-screen-stockpack-adobe-stock
Earphones and mobile phone with podcast app on screen

Napster, Spotify, and AI: How Will AI Escape Copyright Woes?

Robert J. Marks on AI and learning from past copyright cases.

Copyright lawsuits are abounding against generative AI. Since the advent of ChatGPT in late 2022, various companies, artists, and writers have raised concerns over AI’s plagiaristic tendencies. Robert J. Marks, host of the Mind Matters podcast, has the story over at Newsmax. Marks recalls the debacle of Napster, a music streaming service that provided music for “free” without payment to the artists. Not surprisingly, it was soon shut down. So how will it fare with generative AI? What’s the solution to all the impending legal woes in the realm of AI? Marks writes, Today’s Spotify keeps automatic records of song frequency and, from subscriber’s payments, distributes royalties accordingly. Similar methods could be applied to compensate content creators by generative AI. It’s not Read More ›

creative-idea-with-brain-and-light-bulb-illustration-with-generative-ai-technology-stockpack-adobe-stock
Creative Idea with Brain and Light Bulb Illustration, with Generative AI Technology

Robert J. Marks on the Copyright Lawsuits Against the Chatbots

Essentially, the salad of material that the chatbot produces for users contains thousands of ingredients lifted without compensation from copyright holders
Writing at NewsMax, Marx assesses the lawsuits and concludes that there is no free lunch. If generative AI must pay creators, users will probably also pay too. Read More ›
group-of-wildlife-animals-in-the-jungle-together-stockpack-adobe-stock
group of wildlife animals in the jungle together

Unpacking Idealism: Animals and Consciousness

In this episode, co-hosts Robert J. Marks and Brian R. Krouse continue to discuss the concept of idealism with guest Dr. Doug Axe. The topic this time is idealism and its implications for animals and quantum mechanics. Idealism suggests that reality consists of thinkers and their thoughts, with physical objects perhaps being the thoughts of God. When it comes to Read More ›

full-moon-setting-over-the-bridger-mountains-in-winter-near-bozeman-montana-stockpack-adobe-stock
full moon setting over the bridger mountains in winter near bozeman, montana

Robert J. Marks to speak at Big Sky Conference in Billings, Montana

He will focus on the way in which, while AI offers exciting possibilities, many claims for AI are provably overblown
Marks points out in his work that many key acts of the mind, especially those involving creativity, are non-computable and AI doesn’t and can’t do them. Read More ›
robot-hands-point-to-laptop-button-advisor-chatbot-robotic-artificial-intelligence-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Robot hands point to laptop button advisor chatbot robotic artificial intelligence concept.

ChatGPT: You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby  

Reviewing the bot's progress (and problems) from over the last year
LLMs still have problems with getting their facts straight but, all things considered, their performance  is remarkable. Read More ›
an-artificial-intelligence-robot-writer-creating-generative-ai-writing-stockpack-adobe-stock
An artificial intelligence robot writer creating generative AI writing

Can AI Write Screenplays for Films You’d Want to See?

That issue was the heart of the Hollywood writers’ strike. How was it resolved? Or WAS it resolved?
AI can replace screenwriters only if you are content to see the same-old same-old every day forever. That’s true no matter who owns the technology. Read More ›
solar-energy-and-nature-stockpack-adobe-stock
solar energy and nature

Hope & Energy: Empowering Haiti Through Appropriate Technology

In the fall of 2022, the country of Haiti was facing a fuel and energy crisis, and in the intervening months, the situation has unfortunately not improved. In this episode of Mind Matters from the archive, host Robert J. Marks interviews Brian Thomas and Kayla Garrett from JustEnergy, a nonprofit organization that works in Haiti to provide solar energy systems Read More ›

pixel-pattern-of-a-digital-glitch-abstract-background-pattern-of-a-digital-glitch-stockpack-adobe-stock
Pixel pattern of a digital glitch / Abstract background, pattern of a digital glitch.

Marks: AI Creating More AI Equals Nonsense

AI "inbreeding" will always lead to model collapse.
While AI is impressive, notes Marks, it needs the creative intervention of human beings to stay fresh and relevant. Read More ›
concept-tunnel-of-light-in-near-death-experience-soul-finding-their-ascension-astral-trip-astral-projection-people-going-through-the-portal-of-karma-death-and-birth-spirituality-esoteric-stockpack-adobe-stock
Concept tunnel of light in near death experience, soul finding their ascension, astral trip, astral projection, people going through the portal of karma, death and birth. Spirituality, esoteric.

After You Die: Near-Death Experiences With Glimpses of Heaven and Hell

Can near-death experiences provide evidence that the mind is greater than the brain? On today’s episode from the archive, host Robert J. Marks interviews Walter Bradley about near-death experiences. Dr. Bradley discusses the mind-body problem and delves into near-death experiences, including common threads, stand-out examples, and even some discussion of near-death experiences in the ancient world. Near-death experiences have gained 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

Minding the Brain: Unraveling the Mystery of Consciousness

Are the mind and brain distinct? What is the connection between our physical brain and our mental thinking? On today’s episode, podcaster Pat Flynn concludes his conversation with the editors of the new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. After discussing an overview of the philosophy of mind and the range of physicalist perspectives in previous Read More ›

walking-to-new-better-world-hope-and-bright-future-stockpack-adobe-stock
Walking to new better world. Hope and bright future

So AI is “Slightly Conscious” Now?

The AI optimists can't get away from the problem of consciousness.

The idea that artificial intelligence could ever become actually “intelligent” is a minority view, but it’s espoused by some brilliant minds, including Jason Lemoine, an ex-Google employee who claimed the company’s developing AI system was sentient. Lemoine isn’t alone. According to Futurism, OpenAI’s top researcher, Ilya Sutskever, claimed in a Tweet this week that “large neural networks are slightly conscious.” Noor Al-Sibai writes, He’s long been preoccupied with artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which would refer to AI that operates at a human or superhuman level. During his appearance in the AI documentary “iHuman,” for instance, he even declared that that AGIs will “solve all the problems that we have today” before warning that they will also present “the potential to create Read More ›

planet-with-stars-stockpack-adobe-stock
planet with stars

Minding the Brain: Why Science and Philosophy Need Each Other

Does science have to stay within a materialistic framework? It turns out, materialism itself isn’t science — it’s philosophy.  In this episode, Pat Flynn interviews Brian Krouse, Angus Menuge, and Robert J. Marks about alternatives to materialism and how scientific exploration leads us to deeper questions that science alone can never answer. Additional Resources

lava-surface-flow-stockpack-adobe-stock
lava surface flow

The Big Problem for Physicalism

One physicalist theory after another has either ignored or falsified the central characteristics of consciousness

Editor’s note: We are delighted to welcome the new book from Discovery Institute Press, Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science, edited by Angus J. L. Menuge, Brian R. Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 2. Look for more information at MindingtheBrain.org. By Angus Menuge The history of physicalism is one of extraordinary diversity: a wide variety of theories, with multiple versions, have jockeyed for dominance. Yet it is also a tale of persistent failure. One physicalist theory after another has either ignored or falsified the central characteristics of consciousness, intentionality, and rationality that define our mental life. We will begin by tracing the history of physicalism from the early varieties of behaviorism Read More ›

neurons-cells-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Neurons cells concept

Minding the Brain: Discussing the Groundbreaking New Book on the Mind-Brain Problem

Is the mind more than the brain? If so, what’s the difference? In today’s episode, Pat Flynn interviews the editors of the brand-new book Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science. Together, they discuss different perspectives on the mind-brain problem, consciousness, and the limits of materialism. Additional Resources

illustration-of-future-education-classroom-with-robotic-tech-teacher-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
illustration of future education classroom with robotic tech teacher . AI

If ChatGPT Had Children, Would They Be Geniuses or Blubbering Idiots?

It would seem that when AI begets more AI, the result is nonsense.
Blubbering idiocy can be avoided in LLMs by transfusion of fresh information from the creative minds of humans. Read More ›
stump-of-tree-felled-section-of-the-trunk-with-annual-rings-slice-wood-stockpack-adobe-stock
Stump of tree felled - section of the trunk with annual rings. Slice wood.

An Introduction to Minding the Brain

Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain?

Editor’s note: We are delighted to welcome the new book from Discovery Institute Press, Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science, edited by Angus J. Menuge, Brian R. Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Below is an excerpt from the Introduction. Look for more information at MindingtheBrain.org. Is your mind the same thing as your brain? Or are there aspects of mind that are external to the biology of the brain? This question, referred to as the mind-body problem or the mind-brain problem, has been debated for centuries and has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. What is the relationship between our mental life and physical body? Intuition suggests our subjective experience of the world is tightly Read More ›

amateur-observatories-interior-views-vintage-engraving-stockpack-adobe-stock
Amateur observatories, Interior views, vintage engraving.

“Consensus” Doesn’t Always Mean Science

Real scientific discovery happens within a culture of free speech and open dialogue

Robert J. Marks, host of the Mind Matters podcast, recently put out an article at Newsmax discussing “scientific consensus,” and how that term has been used to bully dissenting scientific viewpoints and even establish political and social policy. Marks writes, Consensus was used as a reason to stifle debate during the COVID crisis. Facebook and YouTube saw opposition to the government narrative as disinformation. Posts against consensus were censored and users were banned. Pre-Musk Twitter had a policy concerning tweets about climate change: “Misleading advertisements on #Twitter that contradict the scientific consensus on #climatechange are prohibited, in line with its inappropriate content policy.” The word pairing “scientific consensus” is a destructive science-stifling oxymoron. -Robert J. Marks, Consensus Doesn’t Equal Science | Newsmax.com Read More ›

Minding the Brain

The Mind is More than the Brain

A new anthology, out today, features 25 philosophers with fresh insights on the mind-body problem.
Their provocative conclusion? The mind is indeed more than the brain. We will be offering brief excerpts here in weeks to come. Read More ›
COSM2022-Nov10-174A0113-blake-lemoine-panel

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?
AI experts differ on the capabilities of artificial intelligence, and where this technology is headed. Read More ›
big-radar-parabolic-radio-antenna-global-information-data-stream-stockpack-adobe-stock
Big radar parabolic radio antenna global information data stream

A Google Engineer Talks to Mind Matters About the Radio Spectrum

The spectrum business goes to the highest bidder. But what problems does that pose in the long run?

The federal government determines how the radio spectrum is used and who can use it. Turns out, renting out the spectrum to private companies is a billion-dollar business. The spectrum business goes to the highest bidder. But what problems does that pose in the long run? Google engineer Andrew Clegg discusses this and more with Dr. Robert J. Marks and Austin Egbert in the latest episode of the Mind Matters podcast. Here’s Clegg speaking to some of these issues from the transcript: In the decades past, there were typically enough frequencies to go around for everybody. And so pretty much the first person who applied for a particular frequency or band or whatever, would be given that frequency. And that worked Read More ›