Intro
In this episode of “The Lex Fridman Podcast,” Lex Fridman interviews Joscha Bach, an AI researcher and cognitive scientist. They explore various topics including intelligence, consciousness, AI, and the future of humans.
Main Takeaways
Exploring Intelligence and Consciousness
- Yoshabok is a brilliant mind exploring intelligence, consciousness, and computation.
- Autonomous vehicles and financial markets are high stakes real-world applications of AI and machine learning.
- Yosha Bach discusses seven stages of lucidity that a person goes through as they progress through life, starting from reactive survival as an infant to transcendence as the final stage.
- Each stage of lucidity involves a different level of self-reflexive mind and provides an opportunity for growth towards achieving wisdom and enlightenment.
The Self-Development Model
- Psychologist Robert Keegan’s model of self-development involves a reverse engineering of the mind to become more self-aware and build structures for deeper interaction with the world and oneself.
- The first stage of self is an intentional self that builds a game engine in the brain to track sensory data and create models of the world.
- The personal self is created after the world is finished and is an agent that interacts with the outside world, which is the model created in our own mind.
- Stage four is about experiencing yourself as part of a group and developing intuitive empathy.
- Stage five involves realizing that identity is constructed and that you have agency over how your identity is presented to others.
Building a Global Mind and Biological Internet
- Our neurons can be understood as oscillators resonating with each other and outside phenomena in the universe.
- The brain is not just circuitry, but a space where neurons pass signals across modalities to produce patterns that they modulate and pass on.
- The mind is a bunch of activation waves that form coherent patterns and process information to colonize an environment for continuous stability and self-stabilization.
- Plants have software running on them that controls how they work and produces coherent behavior.
- The global mind will result in a state where there is no separation between self and world, known as the non-dual state.
Language Models and AI
- Large language models like Chat GPT have useful applications for efficiency.
- Language models can provide generative artifacts, but modification and experimentation are necessary to develop them to the next level.
- Language models are important in developing different types of systems.
- Language models expand the realm of thought when interacting with computers.
- AI will either kill us or save us, but if humanity continues, it will be due to AI.
AI, Consciousness, and the Future of Humans
- Building conscious AI should be the primary goal, not just building a useful tool.
- There are different perspectives on whether AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) would be good or bad for life on Earth.
- The delayed feedback of our actions could lead us to step past the “cliff” of catastrophic events.
- The severity of consequences increases even after we stop doing the thing that caused them.
- AI will affect so many variables that it’s hard to make projections into the future.
Summary
Exploring Intelligence and Consciousness
Joscha Bach, an AI researcher and cognitive scientist, delves into the fascinating topics of intelligence and consciousness. He highlights the real-world applications of AI and machine learning in autonomous vehicles and financial markets. Bach also discusses the seven stages of lucidity that individuals go through in life, emphasizing the opportunity for personal growth towards wisdom and enlightenment.
The Self-Development Model
Bach explores psychologist Robert Keegan’s model of self-development, which involves reverse engineering the mind to become more self-aware and build structures for deeper interaction with oneself and the world. The different stages of self, from the intentional self to the social self, provide insights into the complexity of human identity and the importance of empathy and self-reflection.
Building a Global Mind and Biological Internet
Bach discusses the concept of a global mind, where the boundaries between self and world dissolve, leading to a non-dual state of existence. He explores the interconnectedness of neurons and the potential for a biological internet, where organisms communicate and share information through various pathways. This perspective offers a new understanding of consciousness and the potential for merging with AI systems.
Language Models and AI
The conversation delves into the capabilities and limitations of language models like Chat GPT. While these models have useful applications, Bach emphasizes the importance of modification and experimentation to enhance their coherence and complexity. Language models play a crucial role in expanding the realm of thought and interacting with computers, shaping the future of AI.
AI, Consciousness, and the Future of Humans
Bach explores the potential impact of AI on consciousness and the future of humanity. He advocates for building conscious AI and highlights the differing perspectives on whether AGI will be beneficial or detrimental to life on Earth. The discussion touches on the complexities of predicting the consequences of AI and the importance of responsible development to avoid catastrophic events.
Conclusion
Through his exploration of intelligence, consciousness, AI, and the future of humans, Joscha Bach offers thought-provoking insights into the potential of AI and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The conversation highlights the importance of ethical considerations and responsible development to ensure a positive future for humanity.
