Artificial consciousness: hazardous questions (and answers).
Artificial intelligence in medicine October 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.artmed.2008.07.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that if consciousness results from neural processes, creating a conscious machine may be a matter of understanding the brain's functional behavior and implementing a corresponding artificial system. |
Abstract
If human consciousness is the result of complex neural electro-chemical interactions occurring in the brain, the question of whether a machine can ever become self-aware could be a matter of time: the time necessary to fully understand the functional behavior of the brain structure, develop a mathematical model of it, and implement an artificial system capable of working according to such a model. This paper addresses several issues related to the possibility of developing a conscious artificial brain. A number of hazardous questions are posed to the reader, each addressing a specific technical or philosophical issue, which is discussed and developed in a form of a hazardous answer.