Are humans truly unique from artificial intelligence?

TLDR:

• In a recent essay, Avi Loeb argued that unplugging a complex AI system is similar to killing a person, sparking a debate about the fundamental differences between humans and AI.
• Professor Doug Finkbeiner pointed out two key differences: the ability to easily save and reproduce an AI system, and the need for AI systems to rely on external power sources.
• Loeb responded by suggesting that humans could potentially be resurrected after death if we had a better understanding of biology.
• He also discussed the potential for AI robots to generate their own power supply in the future, which would be essential for space exploration.

Avi Loeb, a professor at Harvard University, recently sparked a debate about the fundamental differences between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In a previous essay, Loeb argued that unplugging a complex AI system is similar to killing a person. However, his colleague, Professor Doug Finkbeiner, pointed out two key differences that challenge this view.

First, Finkbeiner noted that AI systems can be easily saved and reproduced, while humans cannot. The weights, biases, and current state of an AI system can be stored and resurrected at any time in the future. Second, Finkbeiner argued that AI systems rely on external power sources, whereas humans eventually learn to acquire their own energy without assistance.

In response, Loeb acknowledged these differences but suggested that humans could potentially be resurrected after death if we had a better understanding of biology. He compared the complexity of the human body to that of an AI system, noting that just as we can save and reproduce an AI system, we might one day be able to do the same with humans.

Furthermore, Loeb discussed the potential for AI robots to generate their own power supply in the future. He emphasized that this capability would be essential for space exploration, as AI astronauts would need to find their own “food” in the natural environment. This would also reduce the need for constant communication with Earth, as AI astronauts would only send brief updates occasionally.

Loeb concluded by reflecting on the complexity of human biology and the importance of humility and gratitude in understanding it. He expressed a preference for being resurrected after death through medical science rather than relying on the notion of a human soul. In his view, understanding the world, including ourselves, offers the opportunity to make it better.