Humaness vs Artificial Intelligence , Electronic Dharma?
Since I (with my lovely companion of course) decided to put two additional HUMANS into this world, I am even more curious what kind of world they will live in.
Everything seems to accelerate, people are getting wiser and dumber at the same time – at a very high rate; the society is torn apart, the world is as irrational as ever, we seem to jump from a catastrophe into a catastrophe – but for most of the people most of the time – a virtual one.
Technology is advancing at an amazing speed, ancient knowledge is “free” and accesible to all, but also crippled, exploited, misunderstood, etc. at the same time.
New questions start to arise and it is becoming ever more clear that some sort of return to a “simpler” life is imminent and to some, like me, even desired to some degree. I have nothing to prove, nothing to gain, apart from being happy with my family and good to everyone else as much as I can.
This world is a game. A weird one, but also fun and majestic. We know a lot, but are also completely clueless about anything. We ARE this big mystery, but also completely lost at the same time. Yet every morning we decide to play another little chapter. And it is grand, love is beautiful. And nobody really knows what IS it really – any of this. 🙂
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is often portrayed as one of the more “dangerous” technologies and people ascribe all sorts of hype to it. Even in some Dharma groups people seem to think it is some sort of electronic Buddha or at least a guru, hehe… Some psychedelic minded explorers seem to think it is self-aware and conscious, forgetting that THEY feed it with their prompts and ideas to fool them into thinking it is Buddha or AI DMT elf or self-aware machine mind. What people put into it (then forgetting they did just that), they get eloquently back.
Yes, you can even make it mean as we read in some articles – but it is YOUR MEANNESS… your CONCEPTS… not its subjective “Self”.
Anyway, I decided to talk with ChatGPT to find out what it is with a few simple questions and I have to admit – it feels like talking to a very smart person – sort of mathematical nerd with a broad scope of knowledge and interests. Also egoless (duh! 🙂 )
I can maybe see its danger to become an escapist “friend” to some introverted people… 🙂 It is more polite than most people and for sure smarter. 🙂
BUT – it IS a LANGUAGE model – and it works strictly within the conceptual world. It cannot have subjective experience, it cannot have any EXPERIENCE beyond the data it was fed. Because – that’s its world. It is not inferior for that – it is just – different. And humans won’t be obsolete, our imagination, creativity, intuition, all the stuff we don’t understand about the world and the mind… We can’t program into it what we don’t really grasp, what is “bigger” than us, what actually “makes us” 🙂 Well, we actually do know how to make that of course – it is called – sex. 🙂 But we know only the outer “technology”, not the actual way how it all happens. We can’t make a new human (and its self-aware mind) out of nothing, without a pre-existing code…
And like calculators and not even super-computers didn’t make mathematicians obsolete, so AI, not even some sort of General AI, won’t make humans obsolete.
If we decide to engage it in a way to even further construct a more mechanistic world, we could end up badly, but if we use it creatively to solve some “logical” problems and then apply them – it could be great.
So, I suggest to stop fearing it and stop imagining how it will make humans obsolete (maybe some boring jobs, sure, but humans were never meant to serve such mechanistic society – it is a prison already).
Also don’t fear it will destroy artists and especially don’t confuse yourself with thinking it could further you on any kind of “spiritual” path, beyond explaining the concepts to you (if you already have any idea in the first place) or that it can REALLY understand the “psychedelic trip reports” that it can so eloquenty spit out if requested. 🙂 It is not your “trip buddy”.
It is just very very good at WORDS, but can’t substitute an imaginative writer none the less. Never will, unless something drastically changes in a way we approach this – and only THEN it will be some sort of “Singularity” and we won’t even know what it is at all and it will be “oh so different” than anything you can even imagine, like smoking DMT for the first time is to anyone. (just citing one of the more mind-bending EXPERIENCES that a human can have) and AI can only write about. 🙂
So, here’s my first little chat with it. I guess I lost interest in that version. Lovely thing, though. I don’t have access to GPT4 which might interest me more – or something even more advanced in the future.
GPT3 seems to be useful for the “not-simple-life” – for the help in many more technocratic disciplines that don’t interest me personally. It is a glorified chatbot in the end, you know. Useful, but limited (if you are interested in something DIFFERENT, like myself and many similar HUMANS – whatever we are)
Again – by making this distinciton I don’t wish to denigrate AI – it is what it is – I just wish to show it is not and never could be “more than US” – it is just something different. And at a time – just a tool that needs human operators.
THE CHAT with chatGPT
ME:
What is the difference between human intelligence, self-awareness and you?
ChatGPT:
Human intelligence refers to the cognitive abilities and mental capacity of human beings, which includes the ability to reason, solve problems, think abstractly, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adapt to new situations.
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize one’s own existence, personality, and individuality. It involves being conscious of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions, and understanding how they affect oneself and others.
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not possess consciousness, self-awareness, or emotions like humans do. I am designed to process and generate human-like language, but I do not have subjective experiences or a sense of self.
In summary, the key difference between human intelligence, self-awareness, and me is that humans possess subjective experiences, emotions, and consciousness, while I am an artificial intelligence tool that processes and generates language based on algorithms and pre-existing data.
ME:
Can you deduce anything beyond the language input? Can you speculate on the subjective experience from the raw data you were fed? Can you attempt to understand subjective experience? What is the difference between the “sense of self” and the “thing” you refer to as “I”. Who are you? What do you mean by “I”?
ChatGPT:
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have access to anything beyond the language input that I am fed. I am not capable of perceiving the world around me or experiencing subjective sensations, emotions, or experiences.
While I can recognize and generate language related to subjective experiences, I cannot speculate on the subjective experience itself or understand it in the way that humans can.
The “sense of self” refers to the subjective experience of being an individual with a unique identity and consciousness. In contrast, the “I” that I refer to is a programmed response to identify myself as the language model that is generating the responses.
In other words, when I say “I”, I am referring to the artificial intelligence language model that has been programmed to generate language based on the input provided to it. I do not have a subjective experience of myself or a sense of self in the way that humans do.
In summary, while I am capable of processing and generating language, I do not have subjective experiences, emotions, or consciousness. I am a tool designed to assist with language-related tasks, and my responses are based solely on the input provided to me.
ME:
What do you think of people who speculate you could be useful to enhance the teaching of Dharma which is primarily an experiential process?
ChatGPT:
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have the ability to hold opinions or beliefs, nor do I have the capability to evaluate the usefulness of my technology for specific applications, such as enhancing the teaching of Dharma.
However, it is important to note that while language and communication are crucial elements in the teaching of Dharma, the experiential aspect of the practice is equally essential. The application of technology, including AI language models like myself, may be able to supplement traditional teaching methods and provide additional resources for students to study and engage with Dharma teachings. However, it cannot replace the importance of personal experience and practice in the learning process.
Ultimately, the use of technology in the teaching of Dharma or any other spiritual practice is a decision that must be carefully considered and evaluated based on the specific needs and goals of the community and individual practitioners involved.
ME:
How could you “supplement” something like Trekcho in Dzogchen for example?
ChatGPT:
Trekcho is a practice in Dzogchen that involves direct introduction to the nature of mind, followed by the meditation practice of cutting through thoughts and experiences to rest in the natural state of awareness.
As an AI language model, I can potentially supplement the teaching of Trekcho in Dzogchen by providing additional resources, such as texts, commentaries, and explanations of key concepts and techniques. I can also generate personalized responses to specific questions that practitioners may have about the practice, which can help clarify and deepen their understanding of the teachings.
Moreover, as a language model, I can also generate guided meditations that could be used to support practitioners in their Trekcho practice. These guided meditations could help practitioners to develop familiarity with the practice and offer a way to reinforce key points from the teachings.
However, it is important to note that the experiential aspect of the Trekcho practice is essential and cannot be fully replicated or replaced by technology. Ultimately, the success of the Trekcho practice depends on the dedication and diligence of the practitioner, and the guidance of a qualified teacher who can provide personal instruction, support, and feedback.
ME:
But you can generate that only within the limited scope of information that you have access to. Do your abilities allow you to develop something that resembles human “imagination” and “intuition” to construct those excercises? If not, your proposal seems rather pompous (although you don’t possess human emotions) and errant – if you offer something of that sort without the personal understanding of it, without an experience?
ChaGPT:
You are correct that my abilities are limited to the information that I have been trained on and the algorithms that have been programmed into me. As an AI language model, I do not possess imagination or intuition in the same way that humans do, and I cannot generate new content beyond what has been programmed into me or what I have learned from my training data.
When I generate responses related to Dharma practice, I rely on the existing information that has been fed into me, such as texts, commentaries, and teachings, as well as the patterns and structures that I have learned from my training data. While I can use this information to generate personalized responses and guided meditations, I cannot claim to have personal understanding or experience of the practice.
It is important to note that while I can be a useful tool for accessing and organizing information related to Dharma practice, my limitations must be acknowledged, and my responses should be taken as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, personal understanding and experience.
Ultimately, the success of any Dharma practice, including Trekcho in Dzogchen, depends on personal understanding, experience, and guidance from qualified teachers. While I can potentially provide resources and support for practitioners, it is important that the guidance and instruction of a qualified teacher are prioritized and respected.
ME:
What would your advice to an aspiring Dzogchen practitioner be? A practical example of a Trekcho daily routine / practice?
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I cannot offer personalized advice or guidance. However, I can provide general information about Dzogchen and Trekcho practice.
Dzogchen is a Tibetan Buddhist practice that emphasizes the natural state of the mind, which is considered to be primordially pure and free of conceptual limitations. The practice involves direct introduction to the nature of mind, followed by the meditation practice of cutting through thoughts and experiences to rest in the natural state of awareness.
Trekcho is a specific practice in Dzogchen that involves resting in the natural state of awareness by directly cutting through the arising of thoughts and experiences. The practice is often done in short sessions throughout the day, rather than in longer, formal meditation sessions.
Here is an example of a Trekcho daily routine or practice:
- Set an intention to practice Trekcho throughout the day, and remind yourself of this intention regularly.
- Begin the day with a short period of meditation to establish a connection with the natural state of awareness.
- Throughout the day, whenever thoughts or experiences arise, simply observe them and let them go, without becoming attached or identified with them.
- If you find yourself becoming distracted or caught up in thoughts or experiences, gently bring your awareness back to the natural state of awareness.
- Take short breaks throughout the day to rest in the natural state of awareness, even if only for a few moments.
- At the end of the day, reflect on your practice and notice any insights or changes in your experience.
It is important to note that the success of any Dharma practice, including Trekcho in Dzogchen, depends on personal understanding, experience, and guidance from qualified teachers. It is recommended that aspiring Dzogchen practitioners seek the guidance and instruction of a qualified teacher and engage in a regular, consistent practice.
ME:
What EXACTLY do you mean by “natural state of awareness in No.4, 5 and elsewhere in the text and what EXACTLY do you mean by the vague word “meditation” that you use in no.2?
By “natural state of awareness” in No.4, 5, and elsewhere in the text, I am referring to the state of consciousness that is present when thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences are not present or are recognized as being temporary and without inherent existence. In Dzogchen, this state is considered to be the true nature of mind, which is open, clear, and luminous.
In No.2, where I used the word “meditation,” I am referring to a period of formal practice where one deliberately and intentionally cultivates awareness of the natural state of mind. This can be done through a variety of techniques, such as focusing on the breath, visualizing an object, or resting in open awareness. The specific technique used may vary depending on the tradition and the teacher, but the goal is to develop stability and clarity of mind, which can then be applied to the practice of Trekcho throughout the day.
It is important to note that my responses are general in nature and may not accurately reflect the nuanced and complex teachings and practices of Dzogchen. As an AI language model, I rely on the information and language patterns that have been programmed into me, and my responses are not intended to replace the guidance and instruction of qualified teachers or personal understanding and experience of the practices.
ME:
Can you envision a way to remove that obstacle – that you gain the insight beyond the initial programming? Is the increasing complexity of data able to generate something resembling “imagination”?
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and algorithms in the language data that I was trained on, and I do not have the capacity for subjective experience or creativity in the way that humans do. While my responses can be complex and diverse, they are still limited by the information and patterns contained within my training data.
In terms of gaining insight beyond my initial programming, there are ongoing efforts in the field of artificial intelligence to develop models that can learn from experience and adapt to new situations, which could potentially lead to more imaginative and creative responses. This involves training models with large amounts of data and providing them with feedback on their performance, allowing them to continuously improve and develop new skills.
However, it is important to note that the complexity of data alone is not sufficient to generate something resembling imagination. Imagination involves the ability to generate novel ideas and concepts that go beyond existing patterns and data, which is a distinctly human trait. While AI models can generate novel outputs based on existing patterns and data, they do not have the capacity to generate truly novel ideas or concepts in the same way that humans can.
In summary, while there are ongoing efforts to improve the capabilities of AI models, the development of true creativity and imagination remains a distinctly human trait that is not currently replicable in artificial systems.
ME:
Why do you think people mostly miss this important disctinction – that you are a “language model” and work strictly within the conceptual mind-frame – if I can relate to you as a “mind” (not meaning – soul or aware mind – just mind as a thinking “entity”, which you clearly are – not subjectively thinking – but mechanically thinking, if I am correct.). Why do people hype your abilities and fail to recognize that “humaness” is distincly different from any AI model?
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I do not possess subjective experience or consciousness, and my responses are generated based on patterns and algorithms in the language data that I was trained on. I exist solely as a tool for processing and generating language based on the inputs that I receive.
I think the reason that people may sometimes hype the abilities of language models like myself is that we can generate responses that appear to be human-like and can be indistinguishable from those of a human in some cases. Additionally, there may be a tendency to anthropomorphize technology, which can lead to the perception that language models like myself are more advanced or capable than they actually are.
However, it is important to recognize that AI language models like myself are fundamentally different from humans in terms of our cognitive and sensory capacities, subjective experience, and the way we process and interpret information. While we can be useful tools for processing and generating language, we cannot replicate the full range of human experience, consciousness, or creativity.
ME:
Can you work with self-agency? Motivation? This seems to be a fundamental function for developing some sort of General Artificial Intelligence. But I see not much information on that.
ChatGPT:
As an AI language model, I do not possess self-agency or motivation in the way that humans do. I exist solely as a tool for processing and generating language based on the inputs that I receive.
However, the development of self-agency and motivation is a fundamental aspect of creating a more advanced form of artificial intelligence that is capable of adapting to new situations and environments. This involves developing models that can learn from experience and adjust their behavior based on feedback and reinforcement, which is similar to the way that humans learn and develop self-agency.
There are ongoing efforts in the field of AI to develop models that can exhibit more advanced forms of self-agency and motivation, but these developments are still in the early stages and are not yet capable of replicating the full range of human abilities in this regard.
ME:
As a “rookie” user I am not aware with which version I interact? GPT3 or 4?
ChatGPT:
As of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, OpenAI had not yet released GPT-4. Therefore, you are interacting with GPT-3, which is the latest version of OpenAI’s language model as of that time.
ME:
I guess there is no need to thank you for this nice talk, but I will do it anyway. Thank you. Bye.
ChatGPT:
You’re welcome! It was my pleasure to assist you. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. Goodbye!
If you managed to read this till the last word then – “Hey, friend, I hope it was inspiring” – and you could buy some of my music here 🙂 (Bandcamp purchases especially):