Exclusive Interview with Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn at the 2nd World Artificial Consciousness Conference—— In-depth Exploration of the Future of Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence

The 2nd World Artificial Consciousness Conference (AC2024) was successfully held online from December 21 to 22, 2024. This year’s conference, themed “Artificial Consciousness + Proactive Medicine,” was jointly hosted by the World Artificial Consciousness Association (WAC), the International Data Association (IDA), the United Nations World Silk Road Forum Digital Economy Research Institute, the International Academicians Experts Alliance, the Sino-American Silicon Valley Development Promotion Association, the China-Europe Scientists Forum, the China Science and Technology Industrialization Promotion Association, the AIII International Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Center, among others. It attracted academicians, professors, and experts from various fields worldwide, coming together to explore the deep integration of artificial consciousness technology and proactive medicine, making it a significant global event in the field of artificial consciousness.

On the eve of the conference, December 20, 2024, globally renowned artificial consciousness research expert, American neurophysiologist, and Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, gave an exclusive interview. In the interview, he provided profound insights into his unique perspective on artificial consciousness and its future development. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field, Chairman Duan Yuchong, representing the World Artificial Consciousness Association, appointed Dr. Kuhn as the Honorary Chairman of the World Artificial Consciousness Association and presented him with the “Laozi-Spinoza-DIKWP” Award.

[Commentary]Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is not only the Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation and a recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal, but also an international investment banker and an expert in artificial consciousness research. At 80 years old, he is considered one of the few outside of China who truly understands China. Recently, Dr. Kuhn was interviewed online by the International Liaison Secretaries of the DIKWP International Artificial Consciousness Team of the World Artificial Consciousness Association (Chu Zeshi, Hua Ruoyu, Yang Aidan, Guo Zhentong, among others).

During the live interview, Dr. Kuhn began by congratulating the successful opening of the conference:“I am very pleased to officially announce the opening of the 2nd World Artificial Consciousness Conference and to express my sincere admiration for Professor Duan Yuchong’s human-centered vision for the development of artificial consciousness. May this vision spread across the world, bringing peace and prosperity. I hope that artificial intelligence can unite humanity and display human qualities. What unites us far outweighs what divides us; nationality, race, ethnicity, and religion are mere appearances. What truly unites us is our understanding of consciousness, our recognition of human life, and the common bonds of family. The vision of wishing one’s children a better life than one’s own is universal, no matter where one is. I hope that the branches and meetings of the World Artificial Consciousness Association can facilitate this goal, for the world truly needs us. I sincerely wish the 2nd World Artificial Consciousness Conference great success.”

Dr. Kuhn’s career has always revolved around the study of consciousness. Initially, he earned a Ph.D. in neurophysiology, focusing on the relationship between the brain and the thalamus, as well as the connections and pathways of the thalamocortical system. He then launched a large media project titled “Closer to Truth,” delving deeply into the mysteries of the nature of the universe, quantum mechanics, and consciousness, becoming an important resource for global exploration of cosmic and consciousness-related questions. Dr. Kuhn pointed out that consciousness is the foundation of all these fields, with phenomenal consciousness—individual inner experience—being the core of his research.

In the interview, Dr. Kuhn emphasized that understanding artificial consciousness first requires understanding the nature of “consciousness” itself. He noted that consciousness is not merely intelligence, thought, or emotion, but the inner experience of interaction between humans and the world, manifested through feelings, perceptions, and reflections. Although current artificial intelligence can interact indistinguishably from humans through the Turing Test, this does not mean that these AIs possess true consciousness. The realization of artificial consciousness has not yet touched upon the deeper issues of phenomenal consciousness.

Dr. Kuhn also shared his insights on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the global technology industry. He believes that although AI has made significant progress in fields such as healthcare, finance, and education, and has driven rapid technological development, there is still a vast difference between AI and the research on artificial consciousness. AI can dramatically increase efficiency at an astonishing speed—its diagnostic accuracy in the medical field, for example, has already surpassed that of many top doctors. However, the advancement of AI does not mean that it possesses consciousness. Dr. Kuhn specifically pointed out that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) can achieve its maximum potential without consciousness and bring profound transformations to society and industry.

Looking to the future, Dr. Kuhn stated that although realizing artificial consciousness faces many challenges, its potential impact on global technology, society, and ethics cannot be ignored. He calls on scholars worldwide to strengthen their attention to artificial consciousness, delve deeper into the relationship between AI and human consciousness, and lay a solid foundation for future technological innovation and social development.

Author: Duan YuchongDuan Yuchong, Ph.D., graduated from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has conducted postdoctoral and visiting research at Tsinghua University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, the French National Academy of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Bocconi University in Milan, and Missouri State University in the United States. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at Hainan University. He also serves as a member of the International Academy of Advanced Technology and Engineering (ATE), Executive Director of the World Artificial Consciousness Association, Honorary President of the Sino-American Silicon Valley Development Promotion Association, Co-Chair of the China-Europe Scientists Forum, Distinguished Expert of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Haizhi Program, Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Strategy Advisory Committee of the China Science and Technology Industrial Promotion Association, Consultant Research Expert of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of the World Artificial Consciousness Conference, and Director of the DIKWP International Evaluation Standards Committee for Artificial Intelligence, among other positions.