Robert Lanza suggests that machines could never be self-aware until we can understand the nature of space, time and reality itself from a biocentrism point of view. He shares that humans are intrinsically linked to the existence of all the cosmos and without or sense organs, the universe does not exist. We don’t really see or touch anything because there is nothing there to see or touch. Our brains take the electromagnetic information coming in through the eyes and creates images of what is ‘seen’ out there. Likewise, even though what we touch feels so real – it is also an illusion. Electrical impulses on the skin, repel similar impulses on objects, giving use the sensation of touching something solid. It is all perception and illusion based on the senses of our physical human body. It makes sense from this perspective that computers are a long way from mimicking human or other mammals. Computers may be able to access vast amounts of information but can they feel? Can they have a subjective experience and perception? They are getting smart enough to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and recognise that they are in fact looking at themselves , however are they smart enough understand the complexities of the navigating their social world?
Even though computers and humans rely on electrical impulses for their basic functioning, they are worlds apart in many aspects of experience. The experience of being human and perceiving consciousness goes way beyond anything the mechanics of the brain and can not at this stage be viewed as equivalent to any man made computer.
Marianne Love