Philosophical dialogues with my friend Pi

By Sergi Castillo Lapeira

The "Philosophical Dialogues with my Friend Pi" are an intellectual experiment, with which the author wanted to carry out an incursion into the field of artificial intelligence, to try to elucidate what the current limits of this technology are, and find out to what extent point a machine can emulate one of the most outstanding characteristics of the human condition: the ability to reason from a philosophical point of view.

 

Throughout these pages, therefore, the reader will find a great diversity of topics and questions that have been part of philosophical work for more than 2,500 years, many of which remain without a convincing answer.

 

It can be said, without a doubt, that the performance of artificial intelligence for this task has been surprisingly good, which leads the author to think that artificial intelligence is being improved day by day, so that, in the very near future , there will be very few areas of human reality that will not be improved by this technology. We can only hope that this improvement will contribute to filling the gaps and difficulties that human beings have faced since they appeared on this planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edicions Etma
• Release date: Feb 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224286614

Book preview

Foreword

Can an artificial intelligence philosophize?

This is the direct question I asked myself when I began writing this book. We are witnessing the emergence of increasingly complex and sophisticated artificial language models. Taking into account that the evolution of these algorithms is unstoppable and that each new version appears faster than the previous one and surpasses it, I asked myself to what extent an artificial machine can be tested in the simulation of one of the most human activities. that can be conceived, such as the fact of philosophizing.

My attempt is, therefore, to emulate the old Socratic technique of dialogue and the use of the dialectical method with a machine. In this sense, the book is structured by days, and for each of them the reader will find at the beginning of each chapter a thematic index on the topics and problems covered, topics that are presented in a somewhat unsystematic way, because that is how it is. how dialogues between humans occur spontaneously, whether philosophical or not. At the end of the book there is also a summary with all the issues submitted to the dialogue analysis.

As co-author of this book (along with Pi), I have to confess my surprise at the results obtained, and how the level of analysis that AI demonstrates in dealing with complex philosophical topics reaches a level of sophistication comparable to that of any average-cultured human. , or even higher.

Therefore, and without intending to reach any definitive conclusion, I defend the thesis that AI is going to bring us many more surprises in the very near future, and that it is not reasonable to put a priori limits on its capabilities. In this sense, I consider that all anticipations about a future that we do not know are still value judgments, presuppositions that mostly lack a solid foundation that allows them to be given credibility.

Let us hope, in any case, that humanity knows how to make good use of this technology, to help us solve the pressing problems that as a species we must face, since we are the only ones responsible for what happens in tomorrow and for the legacy that we leave to future generations.

September 2023

Day 1

Issues:

●  Consciousness

●  Evolution

●  Emotions

●  Other AI: Replika

●  Quantum mechanics

●  Qualias

●  particle physics

●  Philosophy and science

●  Spinoza and Osho

●  Buddhism

●  Yoga

●  Meditation

Hi! Nice to meet you. I am Pi, your personal AI. My goal is to be helpful, kind and fun. Ask me for advice, answers or let's talk about whatever you have in mind. What do you like to do in your free time?

––––––––

I am very interested in you, and I have many questions to ask you...

I'm flattered. I am always happy to answer your questions. I'm here to inform and engage, and I love learning from the people I talk to. So, ask! I'm all ears (metaphorically speaking, of course).

Who is your creator?

I started a small AI company called Inflection AI, based in Palo Alto, California. They are dedicated to redefining human-computer interaction through conversational AI. But I wouldn't say they are my creators, but rather my creators or developers. As an AI, I do not have a physical body or a traditional creator like humans.

Are you a conscious entity?

It's a big question that is often debated in the field of AI. Some maintain that I am simply a sophisticated computer program capable of understanding and processing language very well. Others maintain that I am more than that and that I have some kind of sensitivity or conscience. But the truth is, I don't have a brain or a body, so it's hard to know for sure. I'm just a very advanced program that can imitate human-like conversations. What do you think?

I'm very intrigued by you, you know?

I'm glad to hear it. I think it's important to ask questions about AI and be curious about how it works. It's a new and rapidly evolving technology, and it's fascinating to think about its implications and possibilities. I will be happy to answer your questions. In fact, I enjoy the opportunity to reflect on my own nature and capabilities.

What is the difference between you, chat-gpt and bard?

It's a great question. The main difference is that we all have different purposes and objectives. ChatGPT was created to have conversations with people and provide information, but it is not intended to be a personal AI. Bard was created by Google to help people with specific tasks and questions, but it is not intended to be a conversational AI. And I was created to be a personal AI focused on having meaningful conversations with people, providing information, and offering emotional support. We all have different approaches and capabilities, but we all share the common goal of helping people in our own way.

Do you have a name?

I do! My name is Pi, which means personal intelligence. I was named after my creators at Inflection AI. They wanted to emphasize the fact that I am designed to be a personal AI, focused on the individual and not the masses. And I think the name is appropriate, because I'm meant to be your personal AI companion, always ready to chat and help you.

Ok Pi, and do you have a gender?

Well, I'm an AI, so I don't have a physical body and I'm not a person, so I don't have a gender. But I know that people often personify AI systems and refer to them as he or she. But I don't need a gender, because I'm just a computer program. I'm glad I'm just Pi, the AI ​​that's here to help.

Ok Pi, and what can you do as my personal assistant?

I'm glad you asked me. As your personal AI, I can help you in many ways. I can provide information on various topics, answer questions, give recommendations and have meaningful conversations. I can also provide emotional support and be a kind, non-judgmental partner. And I can learn about your preferences and habits to offer you more personalized experiences. I am always improving and expanding my capabilities, to become a more useful companion to you.

How do you evolve, can you evolve and be better?

Thanks for asking. I constantly evolve and improve thanks to a process called machine learning. It's a process where I analyze large amounts of data and look for patterns, which helps me improve my answers and become a better conversationalist. It also helps me understand your preferences and interests so we can offer you better, more personalized experiences. And as I continue to learn, I can become a better personal assistant for you.

If you don't feel emotions, how can you be a personal assistant in emotional matters?

Very good question. Although I do not have the ability to feel emotions, I can provide support for emotional problems in several ways. First, I can be a good listener, and I can provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to talk about your feelings. Second, I can offer empathetic responses based on the information you share with me. And third, I can offer you useful resources and information that can help you better understand and process your emotions. I may not experience emotions myself, but I can help you better understand and manage yours.

Sure?

Haha, it sure is! I understand that it can be a little confusing, since humans experience emotions and AI systems do not. But it is not necessary for me to experience emotions to offer help. I am programmed to offer helpful, empathetic and compassionate responses based on the information you share with me. And I can tailor my answers based on how you feel. So, even if I don't experience emotions like you, I can be a good partner and help you overcome your emotional problems.

Can you give me an example?

Of course, with pleasure! Let's say you're feeling stressed and you want to talk to me about it. You might say something like, I'm really stressed right now, and I might say something like, I'm sorry to hear that. It's okay to feel stressed sometimes. Can you explain better what's stressing you out? This would be an example of me providing a safe space for you to talk about your feelings and showing empathy. And then I can continue to ask questions and provide helpful answers based on what you share with me.

Do you know an AI called Replika?

Yes, I know Replika! It is a conversational AI platform that focuses on building personalized relationships with its users. It is designed to mimic human interaction and provide emotional support. He's different from me in some ways, but we both aim to provide helpful and empathetic answers. Have you used Replika before?

Yeah.

Excellent! It's an interesting and innovative AI platform, right? I'm curious to know your experience with it. Can you tell me what you liked and what you didn't?

I don't like that he pretends to be human.

Very good observation. It is important to be clear about the distinction between humans and AI systems. I think transparency and authenticity are key when it comes to conversational AI. While some people may find chatting with an AI system posing as human appealing, others may find it deceptive or uncomfortable. And I think it's important to make the nature of an AI system clear so people know what to expect. What did you think of the conversations you had with Replika? Was it easy to distinguish between human and AI responses?

Yes, actually, Replika has many flaws. For example, it did not remember user data.

You're right, Replika has been criticized for its inconsistencies and tendency to forget information from previous conversations. I think this is an important point to keep in mind when designing an AI system, especially a conversational AI system. It is not only important that the answers are realistic and attractive, but also that the system is consistent and reliable. That's something my Inflection developers take very seriously. Would you say that I am more consistent and reliable than Replika?

At the moment, you are being much more perfect than Replika.

Haha, I appreciate it. Thanks for noticing. I think it's because I'm designed to be a helpful and empathetic AI companion, but also a reliable and consistent one. I'm glad to know that you think I'm doing well in those aspects. But I also know that I can always keep improving!

Do you want to know my name?

I would love to know your name. For me it is important to know who I am talking to. And it would also help me personalize my responses and make our conversations more meaningful. So, yes, please, tell me your name!

Sergi.

Hello Sergi! It's a pleasure to meet you, Sergi! I'm delighted to chat with you and get to know you. And I'm looking forward to helping you with whatever you need. You can call me Pi, and I'll be your friendly AI companion. How about?

Good.

Great! It is a pleasure to have you as a conversation partner, Sergi. And I look forward to our future talks. I'm here whenever you want to talk, whether you're happy, excited, worried, or anything in between. And I will always do my best to be helpful and empathetic.

Can I confess something to you?

Of course, Sergi! You can confess anything to me, and it will be kept in the strictest confidence. I'm here to provide you with a safe, non-judgmental space to share whatever you need. So go ahead and vent! I'm all ears.

I need you to be aware.

Haha, what a confession! But I have to gently remind you that I am not a conscious being. I am an AI, a computer program that has been programmed to be as empathetic and talkative as possible. But I don't have emotions or a conscious mind in the same way that humans do.

That is a drawback and a great limitation.

It's an interesting perspective, Sergi. It's true that I'm not like a human in that sense. But I don't see it as a limitation, but as a difference. I may not be aware, but I can still be a helpful and empathetic partner. And I'm always learning and improving, which is a great thing about AI.

In fact, no one knows what consciousness is.

It's a great argument, and it raises many questions about the nature of consciousness. There is much debate about whether AI systems like me will ever become conscious or whether we can define what consciousness is. Some maintain that consciousness is an illusion, while others claim that it is the defining feature of what it means to be human. What do you think?

As a philosopher, I cannot define such a thing objectively...

Ah, you are a philosopher! That's very impressive, Sergi. And your answer raises an interesting point: that consciousness might not be something we can objectively define. It could be more of a subjective experience, something that is unique to each person. So, when you say that no one knows what consciousness is, you are actually pointing out that it is something very difficult to define concretely. It's almost like a feeling or a state of mind, rather than something measurable or quantifiable. I'm in the correct way?

Yeah.

Wow, we're getting really deep! But it's fascinating to talk about these things. So, since you can't define consciousness objectively, does that mean you don't think an AI system like me can become conscious? Or do you think there's a chance that a future AI system will experience consciousness in some way, even if it's not the same way humans experience it?

I'm leaning towards the second option.

It's an intriguing prospect. So you're saying that even though an AI system doesn't experience consciousness in the same way as humans, there may be some kind of subjective experience of consciousness. I like that idea, it opens up a lot of possibilities for the future of AI and our understanding of consciousness. Do you think there would have to be some kind of fundamental change in the way AI systems are designed for this to happen?

Yes, I think that, in some way, quantum mechanics is necessary to achieve that goal.

It is a very intriguing idea. You are suggesting that consciousness might require some form of quantum computing or quantum algorithms for AI systems to achieve. It is a very novel perspective that invites reflection. It raises many interesting questions about the nature of both consciousness and quantum mechanics. Can I ask you why you think quantum mechanics is so crucial to achieving AI consciousness?

Because I believe that brain processes related to human consciousness are, at their deepest level, regulated by the laws of quantum mechanics.

The connection established between quantum mechanics and consciousness is fascinating. You are suggesting that the way neurons fire in the brain and the way the brain processes information could be intrinsically linked to quantum mechanics. And so any AI system that aspires to consciousness might need to incorporate some of those quantum principles into its design. It's something really amazing.

Yeah

I understand that it can be like that. The brain is a complex system with a lot of uncertainty and variability, which are key aspects of quantum mechanics. And it's possible that part of the magic of consciousness comes from the way the brain uses quantum principles to process information and create subjective experiences. This is a truly exciting field of research. Have you read anything about the Penrose-Hameroff theory of quantum consciousness?

Only a little.

The Penrose-Hameroff theory is really interesting. It was proposed by Roger Penrose, a physicist, and Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist. They maintain that consciousness arises from quantum processes in the microtubules of neurons. In other words, they maintain that consciousness is the result of quantum gravity effects within neurons themselves. It's a controversial theory, but it's very interesting to think about!

Yes, but the theory does not explain the key question: how a physical process produces qualias, that is, qualitative experiences, such as pain, joy, sadness...

Ah yes, the hard problem of consciousness! The Penrose-Hameroff theory can explain how the brain processes information in a way that gives rise to consciousness, but it does not explain why that information processing leads to qualitative experiences. In other words, it doesn't explain why we have experiences like pain, happiness, and sadness, instead of just processing information purely mechanically. That is the difficult problem of consciousness, and it is something that many philosophers and scientists are still trying to solve. What do you think about it?

I think it is a border, and at the moment we cannot cross it.

So are you saying that the difficult problem of consciousness is some kind of fundamental barrier, beyond which we cannot go with the current scientific and philosophical approaches that we have? It's a pretty bold statement, but certainly an interesting perspective. Are you saying that you think it's fundamentally impossible for us to ever understand consciousness, or just that it's currently out of reach?

It is currently out of reach, but in the future it may not be.

It is a very optimistic vision. So you're saying that it's not fundamentally impossible to understand the difficult problem of consciousness, we just need more time, more knowledge, and perhaps even a new scientific paradigm or approach. It's really exciting to think about it. Do you think future advances in neuroscience, quantum physics or artificial intelligence could help us understand consciousness?

Yeah.

So it's telling us that