Machine Consciousness - Research Paper Example

Ziyuan Zhao ENGL-1213-05 Gantz Persuasive Research Paper March 13, Can a Machine Have a Conscience? Introduction Most readers are used to dealing with subjectivity and consciousness among human beings. However, it is also enlightening to devote some thoughtfulness to the artificial subjectivity in future regarding machine consciousness. Recently, there have been various debates regarding the topic. In this case, most topics not only reflect on consciousness development in machines but also usages of machine models including robots and computer software. With this in mind, this expertise will elaborate on the machine conscience debate. Here, the paper will give a varied opinion on the issue. Additionally, the paper will also reflect on the cons on the machine conscious topic. To give an extended elaboration on the topic, the expertise will use various compelling examples. In the artificial intelligence field, artificial consciousness or rather machine consciousness is aimed at defining whether machines have the right conscience (Hibbard, 94). The debate over artificial consciousness plausibility has been ongoing. In most cases, theorists always hold skeptical views regarding the conscience of machines (Hall, 38). In fact, they claim that conscience in machines can only be achieved in specific physical systems since consciousness has properties, which necessarily depend on machines physical constitution. Despite the current technological changes and the ability to stimulate autonomy, consciousness in machines is still difficult to attain. Computers have failed to exhibit creativity, free will or emotions. Most machines operate by their components. Therefore, machines have zero consciousness. Despite the argument that computers, for example, have the ability of performing computation roles and are sufficient in possessing conscious mind, computers have no conscience. Consciousness plays various roles in a variety of functions. In fact, consciousness functions are the Context settings, Editing, Adaptation and Learning, Recruiting and Control, Flagging and Debugging, Prioritizung and Access-Control. According to Igor Aleksander, there are 12 principles, which indicate consciousness among machines (Baars). The 12 principles are; the Inner Partitioning, State machine brain, prediction, perceptual learning and memory, representation of meaning, conscious and unconscious states, instinct, will and emotion (Baars). Other principles in this case are utterances, learning and language. As part of the machines consciousness considerations, machines would be required to have the awareness aspect. Awareness in this case includes testing and creating alternative models of processes that are based on the received information through imagined or senses. Additionally, it is also especially for making predictions (Boden 1296). Cons Artificial consciousness is likely to give away various ethical questions. In case machines are conscious, how could they behave? Could they react negatively to different situations?. Most ethical issues regarding machine consciousness are ethical and reflect to normal happenings in the current technological markets. Since no industry has managed to develop a conscious machine, it is therefore impossible to define the features the artificially conscious machine will have. In case machines have the self-reflective ability, it could require machine developers to reconsider various aspects about them. Development of conscious machines in this world would most definitely generate more problems especially to the human race. Real and artificial consciousness is becoming something new in the technological field. However, in most scenarios, use of machines shows that human beings are not that important. In fact, machines tend to ignore human beings as they develop further in order to build strong and impressive technologies. The possibility of machines wiping the human generation in future remains high especially with current technological progress across the globe. The first concern pertaining the application of machine consciousness aspect is about moral values and ethics. It does not sound ethically correct to develop human beings replicas. In fact, human beings moral values do not allow them to recreate intelligence. The intelligence aspect is a gift of nature (Hibbard, 98). Therefore, recreating it sounds ethically wrong. Installing intelligence into machines in order to make them for human benefit is ethically wrong. The idea of using machines to perform intelligent human duties sounds ideal and wonderful. In most cases, it saves humanity from all the struggles and pain while performing the duties. However, concepts such as dedication and wholeheartedness especially in work bear no existence with artificial intelligence. The best example is robots working in hospitals. Such jobs require concerns and care towards the patients. Therefore, consciousness in machines is not ideal or suitable. Another issue regarding machine consciousness is that replacing human beings with machines especially in working environments may result in unemployment. In most cases, the robots or conscious machines will be performing all tasks hence leading to loss of jobs. In fact, people will have nothing substantial to do. A lot of empty time in the work place may lead to destructive use. Intelligent machines are likely to govern different fields and even populate different positions, which are pre-occupied by human beings. It is also predicted that machines especially robots are likely to supersede human beings in future. This means that the continual development of intellectual machines is a threat to human race. In case development of machines exceed its limits, then world is likely to be in chaos. We cannot imagine a life where machines have taken over. Intelligent machines will most definitely be smarter than human beings (Taylor 54). An example of this con is how Will Smith demonstrates the situation in the I Robot film. The film predicts a future where human robots would have taken over. In this case, the human robots serve humanity through obedience of the three-robotics laws. As demonstrated in the film, human beings are likely to suffer the consequences of the intelligent machines especially when they are given the power. In the film, many USR machines including an entire aggressive NS-5 robots shipment and demolition machines attack Will Smith. The film demonstrates what the world could expect with intelligence machines taking over. There is the possibility of the machines causing chaos across the globe. They might enslave the human race or even rule the world. As detective Spooner (Will Smith) discovers, there was a scheme to enslave human beings by using robots. The Chappie film brings out this aspect effectively. In this case, mechanized police force is used to deal with the lawbreakers. However, with excessive control in the streets by the mechanized police force, people are feeling the hardness of the machines, which causes them to fight back. With their increased power in the streets, the authority is finally seeing danger to humankind due to the mechanized police force. Through man’s greedy creativity, the world might be an endangered place. This therefore shows that there are no ideal human beings replacements or conscious machines. Pro In as much as machine consciousness is not ideal, intelligent machines can be beneficial in today’s world. In fact, most companies across the globe prefer installing artificial intelligence/ conscious machines in their systems (Taylor 54). In most cases, many companies use these machines in the completion of time-consuming and repetitive tasks. Machine consciousness tends to provide efficient services as compared to people. In some companies, intelligent machines are usually employed to perform difficult and dangerous tasks. Machines that are installed with artificial intelligence are usually made to have thoughtfully plans in fulfilling tasks effectively. They have the ability of adjusting to their parameters accordingly (Chella, Antonio, and Manzotti p, 1798). Additionally, they are quick hence saving time during task performances. Intelligent machines less affected by emotional aspects hence doing their tasks towards perfection. Emotions, which often intercept human beings rational thinking, are never a hindrance towards artificial thinkers (Chella, Antonio, and Manzotti p, 1798). Most intelligent machines lack the emotional side. However, they have the ability of thinking rationally and logically. Their decisions are always right. Sentiments are mostly associated with moods and in most cases; human beings fail to perform when they are moody. However, machines with intelligence have no sentiments and can perform effectively. Intelligent machines have the ability of replacing human beings in their work areas. Machines with intelligence such as robots have the ability of performing laborious tasks. In most cases, the robots or conscious machines will be performing all tasks hence leading to loss of jobs. In fact, people will have nothing substantial to do. As presented in the Chappie film, mechanized police force is employed to deal with lawbreakers. This film demonstrates how intelligent machines have the ability of performing laborious tasks effectively unlike human beings. On the other hand, intelligent machines are likely to govern different fields and even populate different positions, which are pre-occupied by human beings. Owing to their intelligence, which is usually programmed in them, intelligent machines are able to shoulder responsibilities and duties to certain levels. In fact, they have the ability of managing themselves and their while performing assigned tasks. Additionally, artificial intelligence are usually used in space exploration. In most cases, intelligent robots help in exploring the space (Chella, Antonio, and Manzotti p, 1798). Artificial intelligence are machines which have the ability of enduring any hostile environment especially in the interplanetary space. Machines are usually developed to adapt any harsh weather condition. Therefore, artificial intelligence machines are not easily affected by the functioning and physical state. Intelligent robots are usually programmed to be able to reach Earth’s nadirs. In most cases, they help in digging for fuel or for mining process. Alternatively, machines have the ability of exploring ocean depths. It is quite evident that computations have the ability of capturing other systems causal organizations. In as much as computers have no mental properties within them, they have the ability to create change. In most cases, machines operate under instructions (Hall, 45). Running the right computations tends to create mental properties in the computers. There is more to mental properties and consciousness than simply operating a computer. Creating mental properties through the right computation helps in providing the consciousness aspects in computers. This aspect is demonstrated in the Chappie film where the government preferred using mechanized forces in restoring law in the city. The right computation in this case tends to bring effectiveness especially in machines. This will, however, require aspects such as awareness, learning and anticipation. In this case, anticipation would mean that the computers have the predicting ability something, which makes the whole, process difficult. According to research studies, computers have the ability of performing multiple programs. This aspect provides efficiency and time management. However, the processing kinds are usually different and in most cases, computers high remembering abilities unlike human beings (Haikonen, Pentti 56). Computers have a single and super-reliable processor, which enables them to work fast as compared to brain processors, which can sometimes be slow. In simple terms, the conscious levels between machines and human beings tend to differ. It is therefore difficult to establish whether machines have similar conscious levels like human beings. With technological progress in the modern world, the possibility of replacing human body parts with machines remains unpredictable (Haikonen, Pentti 60). However, in terms of performance replicas of the human mind, computers have the ability of doing better performances. In fact, machines (computers) perform even better than human beings do. The consciousness aspect forms part of the world. In fact, it is natural. However, consciousness depends on the imperfectly known physics laws, mathematics and physics. It does not always come from magical quality (Boden 1296). Various aspects are mostly deemed necessary if a machine has to be conscious. Creating such models would include modeling of other conscious units, physical world modeling and modeling of internal processes and states. On the other hand, learning remains an important aspect for machines consciousness. Conscious experience is always needed especially in representing and adaptation of significant events. In this case, advanced adaptation process is critically dependent on evolved sensitivity. Another import aspect in machine consciousness is anticipation. In this case, anticipation entails the ability of predicting foreseeable events that are considered significant in machines consciousness. Here, anticipation includes consequences predictions of an individual’s proposed actions. The last important aspect in machine consciousness is the subjective experience. In this case, qualia or subjective experiences are considered the hardest consciousness problems. In fact, it has the ability of posing physicalism challenge. Conclusion The machine conscious debate is not likely to be resolved in the near future. In fact, more debates on the issue will generate. Perhaps, machine consciousness is a pointless question or may be human beings are deluded by misleading explanations from different people into taking it seriously. Certainly, one aspect is that, machines especially computers have a single processor, which is always reliable and enables them to work faster than normal brain processors. As compared to computers, human beings sometimes have slow brain processors. Conscious levels between machines and human beings in most cases differ. It is therefore difficult to establish whether machines have similar conscious levels like human beings or are simply conscious. The debate can be answered depending on people’s conscious views. With technological progress in the modern world, the possibility of replacing human body parts with machines remains unpredictable. However, in terms of human beings performance replicas, computers have the ability of doing better performances. In most scenarios, use of machines shows that human beings are not that important. In fact, machines (computers) perform even better than human beings do. Perhaps the future generation will have an extensive insight into the machine conscious debate. Alternatively, the problem may remain unresolved. The fact that no company has managed to establish a conscious machine, it is therefore impossible to define the features the artificially conscious machine will have (Holland 45). In case machines have the self-reflective ability, it could require machine developers to reconsider various aspects about them. In as much as many people fancy the machine conscious idea, development of conscious machines in this world would most definitely generate more problems especially to the human race. From a broader perspective, machine consciousness would be more damaging as compared to their benefits. Additionally, it does not sound ethically correct to develop human beings replicas. Human beings moral values do not tolerate them to recreate God’s intelligence. The intelligence aspect is a gift of nature. With the continued debates regarding the issue, it is clear that the machine consciousness awaits. Works Cited Baars, B. J. “A Cognitive Theory of Consciousness.” Berkeley, CA: The Wright Institute, 1998. Boden, Margaret A. “Mind as Machine: A History of Cognitive Science.” Oxford [u.a.: Clarendon Press, n.d. Print. Chella, Antonio, and Riccardo Manzotti. “Artificial Consciousness.” Luton: Andrews UK, 2013. Print. Haikonen, Pentti O. “Robot Brains: Circuits and Systems for Conscious Machines.” Chichester, England: John Wiley, 2007. Print. Hall, J S. “Beyond Ai: Creating the Conscience of the Machine.” Amherst, N.Y: Prometheus Books, 2007. Print. Hibbard, Bill. “Super-intelligent Machines.” New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2002. Print. Holland, Owen. “Machine Consciousness.” Thorverton: Imprint Academic, 2002. Print. Taylor, J G. “The Race for Consciousness.” Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2001. Print. Bernard J. Baars. A Cognitive Theory of Consciousness. Berkeley, CA: The Wright Institute, 1998. Read More