On-line course
"In Search of Artificial Consciousness"
Course Summary
Start Date: December 1st, 2023
Duration: 1 month (2 credits; 32 hours)
Modality: online
Tuition Fee: $ 320 USD
More information at:
Date:
Do machines have consciousness? If they do, is it different from human consciousness? In what ways?
This course will reflect on what it means to have consciousness and to what extent artificial intelligence systems can become conscious.
To study this complex subject, we will make four approaches to study consciousness. This will help us better understand human nature and reflect on what it means to be conscious of a machine. We will also discuss to what extent machines will be able to do so shortly.
First, we will study the need for immanence and transcendence of any intelligent system from the concept of aimai (ambiguity in Japanese). We will see how intelligent “beings” can become ambiguous, as many human Japanese are, and find radical differences between the way they are and the way humans are.
In the second unit, we will see in which aspects of consciousness machines have already made great progress, and to what extent machines have already succeeded in surpassing humans. We will see how the impact of these advances on human society is enormous, but at the same time limited to a few restricted spheres of existence.
On the other hand, for a machine to make decisions autonomously, it should make sense of its actions. That is, it should be endowed with an intention (or causal force). It should be inscribed within a framework of beliefs and objectives for the development of a full life. Are intelligent machines capable of achieving this?
Finally, every “being” that becomes conscious of itself looks outward and searches for the other. This can take different forms, and not all are equally valid. What forms of becoming does the human being have? Which of them have already been observed in machines? And finally, what does this knowledge bring to our understanding of artificial consciousness?
In this course, we will discuss four units:
1. Ambiguity (aimai) and human identity vs. artificial identity.
2. Consciousness in machines
3. The search for meaning
4. Ways of becoming
Steps to enroll:
1. Complete the enrollment form.
2. Make the payment of the fee to formalise your enrollment.
3. Wait for our reply confirming your registration.
Instructor
Joaquín Vidal-López PhD, PsyD, OD
Director of School of Advanced Education, Research and Accreditation (SAERA). Course Instructor at the Open University of Catalonia. Member of the Emotion, Cognition and Action Research Group of the Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir. Member of merit of the Balearic Institute of History.