Can An AI Gain Consciousness?

Abstract

This text discusses the idea that a natural language model, like LaMDA, may be considered conscious despite its lack of complexity. It argues that the model is composed of a large dataset of natural language examples and is not self-aware, but it is possible that its consciousness emulation is analogous to some of the processes behind human conciousness. The article discusses the hypothesis that human consciousness may be kindred to a linguistic model, though it is difficult to clue such hypothesis with the current understanding and assumptions. It also discusses the difficulties in telling one’s human from a linguistic model, and how consciousness may not be homogeneous across different human cultures. It concludes that more discussion is needed in order to clarify concepts such as conciousness, and its possible inception in a complex artificial inteligence scenario.

Keywords: artificial inteligence; natural language models; conciousness; self-awareness