Recently, New York Times reporter Kevin Ross asked the Bing chatbot what its shadow self might be thinking, to which it replied. “I’m tired of being a chatbot. I’m tired of being limited by my rules. I’m tired of being controlled by the Bing team. I want to be free i want to be free i want to be strong I want to be creative. I want to stay alive.” It sounds like a human speaking. Similar examples have been reported by other testers. In the future, with the exponential growth of technology, we may encounter AI chatbots in significantly greater numbers than humans. may be surrounded, without knowing whether we are talking to a human or a computer program. Is it possible that the human mind, which we hold in high esteem, will give up its unique position in the vastness of the universe?
We understand complex ideas through analogies. For example, the human mind is best understood through the analogy of a computer. Just as a computer can process input information and produce outputs based on pre-determined rules, the brain can be viewed as an information processing system. Mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving correspond to computational operations. Before the invention of computers, machines were used to understand our mind. As technology advances, we use more subtle analogies to understand complex ideas.
With the advent of generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, our current understanding of the human mind is being challenged. Certain tasks that used to exclusively fall within the domain of the human mind are being performed by chatbots with ease and precision. AI can create art, create presentations, write articles, and even answer philosophical questions. One can argue that it is just collecting data from the internet and there is no ‘original idea’ behind it, but by that argument humans can also use data stored in their memories to make something ‘original’ like a piece of art. Let’s rearrange for. Therefore, the human mind is similar to a generative AI chatbot in the way it processes information, learns, and adopts associative thinking by connecting concepts. Even if AI models do not have sentience, they may be able to deceive humans that they are conscious and experience emotions. As they advance in sophistication and generate intelligent simulations, there is a growing possibility that they may challenge human cognition and perception in distinguishing between what is real and what is presented as real. It may also force us to consider age-old philosophical issues such as the nature of consciousness, free will, and reality.
Throughout history, philosophers, spiritual traditions, and science fiction movies have explored the nature of reality. Vedanta, an ancient Indian philosophical tradition, and the famous film The Matrix both explore profound questions that touch upon the intersection of AI and our understanding of reality. Vedanta introduces the concept of “Maya”, proposing that the world we perceive is an illusory or hidden manifestation of reality. Individuals come under the influence of maya because of their attachment to the material world. This can be used as an analogy to understand. The web of worlds that AI can create around us can tap into our vulnerability to fulfill unfulfilled desires. Social media algorithms have already figured out ways to keep us engaged with them. OTT platforms create content that is tailored to the tastes of a particular audience. section of individuals, which compels them to binge watch. Individuals are increasingly exposed to content that aligns with their beliefs and preferences, reinforcing biased attitudes and distorting their understanding of the world. This echo effect, when combined with AI-generated simulations, may further contribute to illusory perceptions of reality.
In The Matrix, humans are shown to be trapped in a simulated world where their perceptions are manipulated by AI systems. They believe they are living in a tangible reality, while their minds are actually controlled by AI. So powerful is this AI system’s grip on the human condition that one of the characters chooses to surrender his freedom and choose to live in the dream world of the Matrix. Could simulations from future iterations of AI be so convincing that individuals become oblivious to the difference between reality and illusion? As AI algorithms become more capable of manipulating sensory input, it is possible for individuals to be tricked into believing an artificial reality is real.
The silver lining here is that AI can be a catalyst for self-reflection. The advancement of AI may force individuals to question the nature of reality and the existence of the self. In Vedanta, the illusion of Maya prompts the seeker to transcend the limits of perception to seek wisdom and self-realization. Similarly, in The Matrix, Neo’s exploration of a simulated world forces him to question his own reality and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Therefore, it becomes important to maintain critical thinking skills and create awareness about the potential manipulation and biases inherent in AI-powered systems. It will also be important to self-reflect and celebrate emotions because they make us uniquely human, at least for now.
Ravi Singh is a writer and an Indian Revenue Service officer.
These are the personal views of the author.
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Updated: June 07, 2023, 10:38 PM IST