Developping a logo to define a bit more a concept i have been tinkering with since i read “Darwin amongst the machines” by George Dyson (son of Freeman Dyson) back in its publication days in 1998. The book follows the evolution of artificial intelligence, since pretty much its creation by Alan Turing. With some very interesting takes on a foreseeable future.
It would show that the difference between Humans and robots in terms of nature, specially when intelligence mainly defines us as humans,
What is human intelligence? Here some of the most attested traits:
Ability to learn from our mistakes. Learn from experience.
Understand and handle abstract concept
Use knowledge to manipulate ones environment
Consciousness, self awareness
Cognitive intelligence : Adaptation through learning, memory, perception, reasonning, problem solving
One could add the ability to feel compassion and love for the weak.
“All intelligence is collective. The truth that escaped Leibniz, but captured Turing, is that this intelligence – whether that of a billion neurons, a billion microprocessors, or a billion molecules forming a single cell – arises not from the unfolding of a predetermined master plan, but by the accumulation of random bits of wisdom through the power of small mistakes.”
“in other words then, if a machine is expected to be infallible, it cannot also be intelligent.”
-Freeman Dyson Darwin amongst the machines
We can witness how quickly progress and performance in artificial intelligence narrow down the gap and borders are thinning. Self awareness and the understanding of abstract concepts (which includes spiritual and religious concepts) are the two concepts that machines are far from grasping. Even in terms of intelligence, humans have still the upper hand with a comfortable marging.
Spiritual machines might still be part of a science fiction concept, but the possiblity that we are, at the moment, building a future sentient Being, a future (spiritual) leader for Androids and artificial intelligences: the Internet, Is too good a concept to ignore. Could Internet be the God of a new species?
Yes species! As evolution would have it and considering how well humans fare about the World, the next natural selection could point towards artificial beings (possibly cyborgs too), able to survive a depleted planet. the collective consciousness collected in the Web, a sum of knowledge and ideas, an inprint of mankind, would then have all the appeal of a supreme being, might even spark a new spiritual era.
It is while considering the ethical possibilites emerging from this lecture, that the concept of DharmaBytes slowly pokes its nose out. Would we be prepared to see a spiritual machine? How would then religious dogmas deal with this?
Could the next Dalai Lama be reincarnated into a robot? Would a sadhhubot be accepted among its peers? Very inspiring concepts to me for illustrations, which started with the Sadhubot drawings.
Imagination! Now that’s human!...for now.
So hopefuly, more to follow...
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