AI, faith, and the deep dive into human consciousness

When I was younger, my Christian upbringing taught me that human consciousness was special. It was a gift from God. This belief set humans apart, making us unique because we could think, feel, and reflect on our actions. But as I grew (much) older and learned more about technology, especially Artificial Intelligence, I started to question this belief. At first a little, later on a lot, because what if the machines we build one day have their own kind of consciousness? What if they could think and feel like we do? What if the machines we’re creating could one day become conscious? What if, in our quest for technological advancement, we end up playing God [1]?

A lot has been said about AI becoming conscious [2]. However, I’m not here to add to that conversation. Instead, I’m curious about the opposite:

How can AI help us better understand our own consciousness?

In recent years, the advancements in neural networks have been nothing short of revolutionary [3]. These computational models, inspired by the human brain, are creating pathways that might help us understand our own consciousness better. By feeding these networks vast datasets, we’re beginning to see how the human brain interprets and processes information, forging what we understand as conscious experiences [4].

Milton J. Bennett, a renowned scholar, spoke about this interesting relationship between human consciousness and AI [9]. He explained that while machines can be programmed to think and solve problems, being conscious is different. It’s about being aware of our thoughts and actions. It’s what makes us, well, human. Bennett also introduced the idea that humans can think about their thoughts, which he called meta-consciousness [9]. It’s like thinking about why you believe in something or why you feel a certain way.

Recent studies have used AI to try and understand consciousness better. One such study used AI to measure changes in human consciousness [10]. This is groundbreaking. It’s like using a machine to look deep inside our minds.

But these studies also raise some big questions. What is consciousness? Can a machine ever truly understand what it’s like to be human? Or will it always be just a machine, no matter how advanced it becomes?

As I continue to explore the relationship between faith, AI, and consciousness, I often think back to my childhood beliefs. Maybe, in the end, understanding consciousness is about more than just science and technology. Maybe it’s about something bigger than us, something truly divine.

The Dance of Machines and Mind

AI and human consciousness are like two dancers, constantly moving and evolving. Today, computers can do incredible things. They can paint, make music, and even write. But can they truly understand what they’re doing? Can they feel joy or sadness?

Humans are different. We feel emotions. We remember our past. Every thought or feeling comes from our experiences. AI, on the other hand, starts with nothing. It learns from data and follows instructions. But can it ever truly understand the human experience?

Can machines feel joy or sadness

Recent advancements in AI are helping us explore these questions. For example, the Explainable Consciousness Indicator (ECI) is a tool that uses AI to study the human mind [7]. It’s like a window into our thoughts and feelings.

At the same time, robots designed to act like humans give us a unique perspective on how our minds work [5]. By watching these robots, we can learn more about ourselves.

But as we use AI to study the human mind, we must also remember our beliefs and values. AI is like a mirror. It reflects what we teach it. As we teach machines, we also learn about ourselves.

In the end, our journey with AI is not just about understanding machines. It’s also about understanding ourselves. It’s about challenging our beliefs and seeking the truth. As we continue to dance with machines, who knows what we’ll discover? Maybe we’ll find answers to questions we haven’t even thought of yet.

References

[1]: [Playing God: The Ethics of Artificial Consciousness] (https://www.sciencedaily.com/)

[2]: [Artificial General Intelligence: A New Frontier](https://www.technologyreview.com/)

[3]: [Neural Networks and Their Role in Understanding Consciousness](https://www.nature.com/articles/)

[4]: [Visual Perception and Neural Networks](https://www.jneurosci.org/)

[5]: [Robotics and Consciousness: A New Perspective](https://www.sciencedirect.com/)

[6]: [AI in Healthcare: A Revolution in Understanding Consciousness](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/)

[7]: [Explainable Consciousness Indicator: A Deep Dive](https://www.nature.com/ncomms/)

[8]: Wittgenstein, L. “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus”.

[9]: Bennett, M.J. “Human Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence”. [Intercultural Development Research Institute](https://www.idrinstitute.org/courses)

[10]: [Quantifying Human Consciousness with AI](https://www.nature.com/ncomms/article-details)