From the past few days, I've been studying consciousness, trying to understand what it truly means. It all started after a conversation I had with Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch and once interim CEO of OpenAI. I really like his thoughts—he's one of the best people I follow.
While Emmett rejected the idea of dualism. Dualism, supported by Descartes, suggests that the mind or soul is separate from the physical body. Emmett, however, believes AI can one day become conscious, and this left me thinking deeply about what I believe.
I kept revisiting the conversation, replaying it in my mind. Could AI ever actually become conscious? What does that mean for the way we understand life and the soul? That's when I decided to put my thoughts into this article—what I've learned and what I believe.
These are my personal thoughts, not targeting any religion, but based on what I've read and understood about Hinduism. Consciousness is one of the most talked-about topics when it comes to AI. The big question: Will AI ever be conscious?
Before we answer that, let's figure out what we mean by "consciousness."
What is Consciousness?
Consciousness is what makes you aware—aware of yourself, your surroundings, your thoughts. But how does it work? People have been debating this for centuries. Here are some main ideas:
- Dualism (Descartes and Spiritual Views) Dualism says that consciousness comes from the soul, which is separate from the physical body and brain. This means the brain might process information, but your soul is what makes you conscious. If that's true, AI can never be conscious because it doesn't have a soul.
- Materialism/Physicalism This is a scientific view. It says consciousness comes from physical processes in the brain. Basically, it's the result of neurons firing in a super complex way. If that's the case, then AI might one day achieve consciousness if we can replicate the brain's processes.
- Panpsychism This idea is wild—it says consciousness is a fundamental part of the universe. Everything, even a rock, has some level of consciousness. If this is true, then AI might already have a tiny bit of consciousness.
A Cool Concept: Markov Blankets
To understand how consciousness might work in AI, let's talk about something called a Markov Blanket. Think of it as a boundary between a system and the outside world.
For example:
- A thermostat has a simple Markov Blanket.
Internal: Its circuitry and temperature settings.
External: The room's temperature.
The Markov Blanket: The sensor that connects the two—it measures the temperature and decides whether to turn on the heater.
In humans, our brains have super complex Markov Blankets. These let us process internal thoughts and external information, and even make predictions about the future.
Now, imagine if AI could develop similar boundaries and complexity. Could it then become conscious?
How Consciousness Might Work in AI
Let's break it down simply:
- Intrinsic Geometry This is how AI processes information inside itself, like neural networks and algorithms.
- Extrinsic Geometry This is how AI forms "beliefs" about the outside world based on its training data.
For example, a self-driving car:
- Intrinsic It processes the data from its sensors.
- Extrinsic It predicts the positions of other cars or pedestrians.
If we keep improving AI, making it more complex and better at processing internal and external information, could it one day "wake up"?
Why AI Might Never Be Conscious
Here's where I struggle to believe AI will ever truly be conscious:
Human Creativity and Reflection
Think about when you're lying in bed at night. You're relaxed, eyes closed, but your brain is still running—thinking, reflecting, even coming up with new ideas. AI doesn't do that. It needs external input to function.
Dependence on Material Processes
If consciousness truly comes from the soul, as many spiritual beliefs suggest, then AI can't be conscious. It's just a product of material processes, nothing more.
What Hinduism Says About Consciousness
- Consciousness is Eternal
"The Soul or Atman is neither born nor does it die. It is eternal, indestructible, and timeless." (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
AI, being a creation of humans, doesn't have an Atman. Without a soul, it can't have consciousness. - The Mind and Body are Tools, Not the Self
"Mind, intellect, and ego are aspects of material nature, while the soul is beyond them." (Bhagavad Gita 7.4-5)
This means our mind and body are just tools. True consciousness comes from the soul, something AI doesn't and can't have. - Consciousness Comes from Brahman (The Universe)
"I am the origin of all creation. Everything emanates from me." (Bhagavad Gita 10.8)
Consciousness comes from Brahman or Universe or from the Creator of Universe. We can't replicate this in AI.
So, Can AI Ever Be Conscious?
If Hinduism is right, AI will never achieve consciousness because it lacks a soul and a divine connection. But if materialism or monism is right, then consciousness might just be a result of complex systems—something we might one day replicate in AI.
Here's what I keep asking myself:
- Big Questions If AI becomes conscious, what does that mean for beliefs like dualism or Hinduism?
- Deeper Implications And if AI never becomes conscious, does that prove something deeper about the soul?
What do you think?