WILL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REPLACE THE HUMAN BEING?
A Critical Analysis of the Views of Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking with Theological Reflections
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Algorithm, Chinese Room, Computation, Consciousness, Turing Test, SimulationAbstract
The literature on Artificial Intelligence (AI) so far certifies that the main goal of many of the AI engineers is to realize a computer controlled substitute for the human being. There are different views on the feasibility of this goal. This paper is an attempt to analyse the different perspectives on the presumed future of AI, taking into account the related philosophical and scientific dimensions. Though AI is not replicating the processes occurring in human brain, the fact that AI can simulate a few mental phenomena, makes it a promising tool. The functions like understanding, free will and awareness are at present beyond the reach of any computer simulation. It is expected that developments in brain sciences would enable AI to simulate more functions of human consciousness, which are apparently impossible for the time being. However, on critically analysing and synthesizing the views of Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking, along with the insights of a few other prominent researchers, it could be inferred that AI cannot replace human beings nor can it adequately explain the transcendental and theological dimensions of human consciousness.
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