(07-20-2015, 11:17 PM)Bring4th_Austin Wrote: I saw this a couple days ago and I'm still having a hard time understanding how this test implies a sense of "self-awareness."
From what I understand, the algorithm simply attempts to make each robot speak, but only one can, and so when they all try to say "I don't know," the one who can speak is revealed. The algorithm then recognizes that the one who spoke is the one who is able to speak. It only refers to itself as "I" because it is programmed to do so.
Of course, you could ask, what if we are only programmed to say "I" because we are programmed to do so? (Not necessarily in such a direct way, like by human intelligence, but by the development of the brain through evolution).
If I am misunderstanding this test, then please correct me. But, I think the actual test is less impressive than they're making it out to be. For instance, you can name your Windows computer, let's say you name it "Me" as a reference to itself. You can then search for files on the network and see which computers have a certain file. You could make the search box say, "Who has the MP3 file to 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley?" and the computer would return, "Me" so long as that is where you saved the file.
Does this make the computer self aware? It is aware that it is "Me" and that on it is stored the file. If this is the case, computers have been self aware for a very long time, and are simply now becoming more self-aware.
But does this self-awareness have the same experience of consciousness as humans do? Does the universe have an "experience" of the computer referencing itself catalyzed by external input (us) as the universe is able to "experience" itself through us referencing ourselves catalyzed by external input (sensory perception)?
How can you even prove something is having an experience?
You could ask does the computer have choice or rather free will?
I do think there could be mechanical bodies built but the algorithms would have to be open to quantum randomness for the processing to be more free in itself rather than stuck into evolving linear patterns.
After all we are using biological computers as bodies but I doubt a 3D race can create another 3D race, perhaps later in human evolution.