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New Book: Artificial Consciousness and Human Consciousness

已有 231 次阅读 2025-1-26 10:28 |系统分类:论文交流

New Book Preview: Artificial Consciousness and Human Consciousness

Yucong Duan

Preface

Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has continually created and used tools to extend its capabilities. Initially, it was stone tools and fire, followed by metallurgy and machinery, and then the industrial revolution and electrification—each major technological wave has profoundly altered production methods and social structures. However, it wasn't until the digital and information revolution that the enhancement of machines' functions remained primarily at the physical or computational level. Their "intelligence" or "autonomy" was confined to very limited programmatic scopes, playing roles akin to stronger, more precise, and faster assistants. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), however, has brought about the first serious contemplation of whether tools can possess mind and consciousness.

The focus of this book, Artificial Consciousness, is an exploration at the cutting edge of machine self-awareness, emotions, intentions, and higher cognitive characteristics in the context of today's AI development far surpassing traditional expectations. As we witness machines demonstrating extraordinary learning abilities and flexible responses in fields like Go, autonomous driving, intelligent customer service, and natural language generation, we are forced to reconsider: Will machines soon step into the realm of "consciousness"? Or, under certain conditions, will they challenge the "subjective experience," "self-decision," and "free will" that have been human-exclusive?

This book revolves around this significant question and advances across several key fields:

Philosophical and Theoretical FoundationsThe author discusses the "conscious existence of the conscious" (phenomenology) and the "being-in-the-world" (Heidegger) issues, as well as the thoughts of Kant, Husserl, Heidegger, Chalmers, and others on "self and free will," "hard problem and qualia," "bodily presence," and more. Readers will get a preliminary understanding of how the Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Workspace Theory (GNWT), two major contemporary consciousness models, play a catalytic role in AI or artificial consciousness research, while also exploring their limitations and controversies. The philosophical focus not only stimulates exploration into whether machines can truly have "subjective experience," but also deepens our understanding of the ancient mystery of "why humans have experience."

Technical and Engineering PathwaysIn the middle chapters, the book systematically elaborates on the DIKWP model (starting from the progression of "Data—Information—Knowledge—Wisdom—Intention") and analyzes how artificial consciousness forms human-like high-level scheduling, reflection, and decision-making abilities through the integration of knowledge bases and wisdom layers, as well as the setting of intentions and values on top of fundamental perception and information processing. It also reviews cutting-edge technologies such as explainable AI, neural-symbolic integration, and multimodal large models. The author combines theoretical exploration with engineering examples, addressing both operability and concerns regarding underlying computational power, algorithmic security, data privacy, and more.

Social and Cultural ImpactsIf artificial consciousness is achieved to a significant degree, it will inevitably bring transformative impacts to many areas including the economy, labor, education, healthcare, services, and military. The book analyzes the impacts of human-machine collaboration on employment and social welfare, as well as its influence on human self-positioning and community culture. It also examines how science fiction and mass media shape and amplify the artificial consciousness discourse. It becomes clear that artificial consciousness will not only continue to challenge human conceptions of tools but will also profoundly change our traditional models of value creation, artistic innovation, emotional interaction, and even political decision-making and public governance.

Legal and Ethical ProspectsFrom the perspectives of law and moral philosophy, the book explores whether highly autonomous "intelligent agents" should or could possess civil or criminal subjectivity, i.e., the possibility of "electronic personhood." If a system independently makes decisions and an accident or unlawful act occurs, how should responsibility be assigned? If a system develops "intention" or even "emotion," does it require rights and ethical considerations? The author further delves into ethical challenges in high-risk scenarios such as military AI and totalitarian surveillance, proposing the establishment of compliant AI and value-alignment mechanisms, embedding moral norms into algorithms, and promoting transparent societal supervision and legislative cooperation to minimize risks of uncontrollability.

Future Perspectives and Civilizational ProgressAny study that solely focuses on "technology" or "society" cannot fully reveal the profound implications of artificial consciousness for "the future of humanity." In the final chapters, the book encourages readers to think with a broader historical view of civilization:

  1. How will human self-concepts (reason, emotion, physicality) evolve once machines possess near or superior versions?

  2. Can humans and artificial consciousness form a true partnership in larger ecological systems or even in interstellar exploration, moving towards a post-human or multi-species form of high civilization?

  3. How can we grasp the critical deciding factors between "loss of control" and "symbiosis"? Can global cooperation, value alignment, and ethical prudence effectively prevent crises stemming from arms races or monopolies?

  4. Ultimately, can humanity achieve a leap from the "nation-state era" to the "planetary community era," using human-machine collaboration to solve environmental, wealth disparity, and extreme violence issues, thus stepping toward a future of greater spiritual freedom and creativity?

In this multidimensional structure, this book does not intend to replace academic monographs or specialized industry reports, nor does it claim to provide all-encompassing conclusions in every cutting-edge field. Instead, it presents a grand interdisciplinary, cross-visionary narrative, guiding readers to experience the complexity and depth of artificial consciousness. It encompasses profound philosophical and mathematical modeling challenges, while also dealing with the entanglements of commercialization and policy regulation in real-world societies. It brings both hope and potential for human civilization, while also carrying the possibility of unforeseen opposition or crisis.

Throughout the book, the most striking feature is the author's exploration across philosophy and engineering, ethics and application, society and the individual, elevating the concept of "artificial consciousness"—often misunderstood or oversimplified as "smart machines"—to the height of "symbiotic new civilization." For readers, the journey through this book is like a multidimensional intellectual exercise: engaging with deep academic topics like "Integrated Information Theory" and "Global Workspace Theory," while also awakening reflections on humanistic spirit, social justice, and future ecology.

In today's world, divisions and conflicts are still common, with countries and multinational companies vying in AI technology. At the same time, many scientists, philosophers, and social activists are calling for stronger global cooperation and ethical supervision in areas like "artificial consciousness" and "general intelligence." How much inspiration could a book like Artificial Consciousness and Human Consciousness provide for this historic negotiation? Perhaps it cannot immediately overturn conflicting interests, but it can help more readers—whether researchers, practitioners, or the general public—to approach the potential impacts and prospects of artificial consciousness with greater tolerance and rationality.



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