There is a lot of confusion about what artificial intelligence (AI) means or doesn’t mean, especially in places like Silicon Valley. For me, the biggest confusion is between intelligence and consciousness. Ninety-five percent of science fiction movies are based on the error that AI will be artificial consciousness. They assume that robots will have emotions, will feel things, that humans will fall in love with them, or that they will want to destroy us. This is not true. Intelligence is not consciousness. Intelligence is the ability to solve problems. Consciousness is the ability to feel things. In humans and other animals, the two go together. For mammals, our emotions and sensations are an integral part of the way we solve problems. In the case of computers, we don’t see the two going together. Over the past few decades, there has been immense development in computer intelligence and exactly zero development in computer consciousness. There is absolutely no reason to think that co...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.