Friday 23 June 2023

Updating "Psychotechnic" SF?

Solar energy beamed from space saves the Terrestrial environment.

A global culture and language.

Self-sustaining space habitats.

AI and mass technological unemployment.

A research project linking modern neurology and psychology and conscious AI to ancient yogic/meditative practices.

A movement to ensure that the entire population benefits from modern technology.

A counter-movement to keep wealth and power in the hands of a few ("the Gang.")

I think that that research project is more plausible than Valti's equations.

9 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Except I remain extremely skeptical that true AI is even possible. But I certainly did not mind Anderson examining that idea in detail in his later works.

Ad astra! Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

Sean: it's certainly -possible-. Our brains are material objects, and -they- produce intelligence.

Whether it's probable anytime soon is another question entirely.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

Now you are touching on the ancient mind/body problem and how material things can produce immaterial thoughts.

I am still skeptical about AI, but I'm willing to say it's possible, but not VERY likely, as of now.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

A computer is an artefact that simulates some brain functions and is not conscious. Any artefact that exactly duplicated brain functions would have to be conscious because brain functions generate consciousness. Organisms interacting with their environments became conscious by developing central nervous systems which include brains.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And I don't believe computer software programs and hardware has yet achieved AI.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Software and hardware are not and cannot be conscious but they are "Artificial Intelligence" in a sense that does not involve consciousness.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!


To me, that means they are not any kind of real "consciousness."

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Computers are not conscious but some other kind of artefact might be.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Someday, possibly, despite my skepticism!

Ad astra! Sean