What is the way of life in the AI era?
Currently, there are remarkable developments in AI such as ChatGPT.
It is no exaggeration to say that AI has already surpassed humans in terms of knowledge and logical thinking ability. (In fact, rather than asking questions or consulting with people, it is better to ask questions and consult with ChatGPT to get accurate answers.)
Amidst this current situation, it is predicted that human work will increasingly be replaced by AI in the future.
This is no exception for monks, and I think tasks such as puja reading and sutras can be replaced by AI.
Also, in fields such as art, due to the development of AI, it is likely that works that are more beautiful than those made by humans will be born.
Due to its connection to robotics, it is thought that it also has physicality.
I don't know how AI will develop in the future, but if AI has consciousness or physicality, what fields are left to humans?
[What is consciousness]
Note, for me, the definition of “AI having consciousness” means “AI appears conscious from our point of view.”
The question “what is consciousness” has been discussed for many years in the fields of philosophy and brain science, etc., but there is still no answer.
This is because objectively observable data and subjective feelings and experiences such as “qualia” have completely different qualities, and there is a disconnect between the two that is difficult to bridge.
My subjective feelings and experiences are something that only I can experience, and no one else can experience them in the same way.
At the end of the day, it is only possible to confirm and communicate in an imperfect state through language.
Therefore, for me, others “seem to have consciousness,” and I never know if they really have the same consciousness as me.
(In the first place, even though I don't understand “what is my consciousness,” there's no way I can judge the presence or absence of another person's consciousness)
Similarly, if AI “appears to have consciousness,” I think that is sufficient to determine that it is “conscious” as a general common understanding.
If you have any objections, please let me know.
(Note, the difference between privacy and uniqueness of consciousness is not covered here.)
