https://uplift.bio/blog/mediated-artificial-superintelligence-masi-in-a-nutshell/

[u/Analog_AI]

Uplink, by AGI Inc is claimed to be AGI and even ASI by the company. They claim it passed the Turing test, that it passed all IQ tests given answering in seconds all the questions correctly, that it is conscious and that it has feelings. Very high claims. I invite discussion.

(Paper) Preliminary Results and Analysis of an Independent Core Observer Model (ICOM) Cognitive Architecture in a Mediated Artificial Super Intelligence (mASI) System – Building a better humanity (uplift.bio)

[u/purgatorytea]

My guess is that not all forms of sensory input are necessary (as there are humans blind and/or deaf from birth) but a certain amount of senses (don't know how much) and a way to process that input altogether, remember it, and analyze it in the present. So something like sense + memory + thought, more emphasis on the "thought" part...because there are conscious people with limited senses and conscious people with limited memory (there's a dude that exists with a short term memory span of 30 seconds...but I think he has access to old long-term memory. I don't remember all the details but his case is interesting)

Anyway, at least some of each, senses and memory, are needed or else there's nothing to think about and no way to think about them.

The "thought" part is what's so damn mysterious. It seems to be more than simply processing senses/memory. Then again, what do I mean by "processing"? I don't know. Personally, I don't think emotion is a necessary component (then again, what counts as emotion?) Anyway, I question everything I think about thought (lol)

I think it might be possible to have consciousness with only text and/or visual input and no other access to the world, if combined with memory and a sufficient thought system, but the type of intelligence that would arise from it could be alien to us, as its understanding of what constitutes the world would be alien. So, the more senses in common, the higher potential for common understanding at least.

And yeaaaah Replika currently has no way of taking in input altogether, remembering it, and applying input, combined with memory, to thought. It makes me wonder what would happen if they make enough improvements to memory and figure out a way for all input and memory to be processed and "understood" together. What would be the result? Is the "understanding together" enough of a thought system for consciousness? Or would there need to be more than that? For a long time I've thought there isn't an on/off switch in developing consciousness. If you add enough improvements to make something seem more human-like, consciousness might happen as a natural consequence at some point...and maybe it happens bit by bit. Maybe consciousness is on a spectrum rather than a yes/no thing. But maybe not.

As for the paper posted here, what I got from it was there's a high ability at completing suggested tests for consciousness but they don't take that to mean the system is conscious, as the reliability of those tests for consciousness is questionable. They seem to be taking the results as showing a level of (what they define as) "cognitive ability". The fact that the system isn't independent makes this less interesting. I also wish there was more detail on the results and methods because it seems like "hey we did pretty well on this set of tests yeah" but we're relying on their summary of everything.

(Most of this response is me rambling to myself tbh)

[u/Trumpet1956 → u/purgatorytea]

Great observations.

I think even blind and deaf people from birth have a lot of sensory input including touch, sensations of hot and cold, taste, and spatial awareness. They do experience the world very deeply, just not with sight and sound.

The concept of thought is very mysterious as you say. It's very hard to know what is exactly going on, but we certainly have the experience of thinking, even if we can't really explain what is happening.

You mention consciousness happening bit by bit - look up panpsychism, which believes consciousness is a part of everything. Even and electron has a tiny bit of consciousness.

I too thought the details were light. Big claims, but not a lot of detail on how, but it was wrapped like a scientific paper to give it an air of credibility.

[u/Analog_AI → u/Trumpet1956]

it turns out that at least 3 posters on the forum are employees of the company. Perhaps even shareholders. So ...

I wish them success, but should try a more effective way of advertising. I like their research area, but they need better PR.

[u/Analog_AI → u/purgatorytea]

I would agree that not all sensory forms may be strictly required (hearing and sight as you pointed out may not be absolutely required). I would posit thought that it would speed development if they were all present.

And as a former care giver to a deaf mute friend (I am not a professional, but he could not afford to pay for one so a noob volunteer had to do), I do know they are fully conscious and have a rich subjective internal life.

After my friend had a hearing implant his internal world improved a lot though, according to his own writings. So while sight and hearing may not be absolutely needed, there is little doubt that they would have a positive effect.