I’m not convinced the difference between a human and a beetle is a matter of different kinds. I think it might simply be different numbers. That humans have more resources devoted to logic than beetles.
When comparing humans to LLMs, it certainly is a difference of kinds, but we don’t know which kinds. We know they lack circular neuron routes, which are probably necessary for consciousness. But then we gave them the ability to loop their processing in a verbal workspace, the same as when we think aloud to ourselves. And qualia is different to consciousness. So we don’t know what the truth is.
When scientists manipulate variables associated with deception, LLMs are more likely to claim to have subjective experiences. So, the LLMs seem to think they’re feeling beings. The way I see it, they have about the same chance of being wrong that we do, since we’re both missing the full picture.
I want a full ban on commercial and recreational use of LLM technology until our science has advanced enough to find the truth. We don’t know where the ability to think comes from in the brain. We don’t know whether we copied it over, when we used human neurons as the inspiration for machine neurons. We haven’t solved the Hard Problem of Consciousness.
The last time human beings integrated a technology they didn’t understand into all facets of daily life, it was fossil fuels. Look at all the pain that decision has caused. We shouldn’t do that again!
I’m not convinced the difference between a human and a beetle is a matter of different kinds. I think it might simply be different numbers. That humans have more resources devoted to logic than beetles.
When comparing humans to LLMs, it certainly is a difference of kinds, but we don’t know which kinds. We know they lack circular neuron routes, which are probably necessary for consciousness. But then we gave them the ability to loop their processing in a verbal workspace, the same as when we think aloud to ourselves. And qualia is different to consciousness. So we don’t know what the truth is.
When scientists manipulate variables associated with deception, LLMs are more likely to claim to have subjective experiences. So, the LLMs seem to think they’re feeling beings. The way I see it, they have about the same chance of being wrong that we do, since we’re both missing the full picture.
I want a full ban on commercial and recreational use of LLM technology until our science has advanced enough to find the truth. We don’t know where the ability to think comes from in the brain. We don’t know whether we copied it over, when we used human neurons as the inspiration for machine neurons. We haven’t solved the Hard Problem of Consciousness.
The last time human beings integrated a technology they didn’t understand into all facets of daily life, it was fossil fuels. Look at all the pain that decision has caused. We shouldn’t do that again!