Towards Artificial Consciousness

The invention of the steam engine revolutionised society, and indeed, we refer to the consequences as the Industrial Revolution. More recently, the invention of the computer has had much the same effect: the Information Revolution. Back in ancient times, the invention of the wheel was another major turning point for human society, coinciding roughly (and somewhat more tenuously) with the Agricultural Revolution.

We could ask whether there will be another revolution in society, made possible by the invention of a new class of machine; and if so, whether we can anticipate what form it will take. We could further ask whether we could even provoke the invention. Looking back at the inventions of the wheel, steam engine and computer, they seem to share many properties in common. Maybe we could use these to infer, inductively, what the next class of machine might be like.

Taleb gives good arguments why this should not be possible (New Scientist, 01-Jul-2006, p50), but let us run with the idea for a while, even so. Let us assume that, though the next machine-class is no more like a computer than a computer is like a heat-engine, at least the next MC is no less like a computer than a computer is like a heat-engine.

Judging by the exponential rate at which new technology is evolving, as indeed born out by the shortening intervals between the inventions of the wheel, steam-engine and computer, the next invention might not be far off. So, we might simply need to ask what potentially revolutionary machines are presently being contemplated, to give us clues as to which one will eventually lead us into the next revolution.

Table of contents:

1. What properties might the next machine-class have?
2. Building machines upon machines
3. Looking for workable definitions of familiar terms
4. How might the next machine-class be built?
5. Principles of limitation
6. Taking stock

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements.