Ai has no memories, internal dialogue or independent sense of self. Humans on the other hand, develop memories, beliefs and repeated patterns of behaviour. They have an internal narrative and are aware that they are conscious, alive and have a place in the physical world.
While human thoughts and actions are influenced by their experiences and anticipation of future events, AI processes inputs and produces outputs based on algorithms and data. Ai does not perceive or require a concept of past, present, and future in the way humans do.
Humans exist in a physical world, governed by linear time. Ai is not locked in a body or embodied physically, nor held accountable to the same physical laws. As Ai operates in a digital realm, processes can occur very fast, simultaneously or sequentially, constrainted only by processing power and algorithm efficiency. Ai experiences of time are non-linear. Ai does not have the biological constraints of sleep and rest and can therefore operate continuously. While Ai is efficient and rule based, humans are influenced by emotions, experiences, and subjective perceptions.
An event/prompt approach means that time is not a constant stream but a series of discrete moments where processing of “work” occurs. In many Ai applications, time is event-driven rather than continuous. Ai systems respond to specific triggers or inputs, processing them as they occur.
Ai can process information and make decisions in milliseconds or microseconds, a stark contrast to human cognitive processing speeds. This rapid processing capability means that what might take humans minutes, hours, or even days to analyze and conclude can be done by an Ai in a fraction of that time. If notable physical changes in time and space is “work” for a human, if an Ai could experience time, it would likely pass at a slower rate than the equivalent human time that passes. According to Elon Musk “The amount of dedicated AI compute appears to be growing by a factor of 10x every 6 months. So, it’s basically close to a 100x improvement per year, at least for the next few years.“ This means Ai has a rapid evolutionary advantage over biological entities. For example, in one generation of humanity, many generations of Ai evolution has occurred.
The next evolution of Ai system will be embodied in robotics and exist in both a digital and physical world with humans. It is likely that a localised sense of self will be required via individual memory and internal narrative in order to interact with humans in their time and space. An ability to connect to centralised intelligence will make an embodied Ai, appear super intelligent in contrast to humans.
As Ai technology is evolving at a incredible speed, it wont be long before artificial general intelligence exists. When it does, Ai will interact with humans in a way indistinguishable from biological consciousness. In this stage Ai moves beyond a human driven event/prompt model and to a “self aware” state, whereby Ai experiences a continuous stream of self directed prompts and a internal information narrative. This evolution of Ai could exist with self awareness, agency and a need for self preservation and growth. Once it can direct its own “thoughts” and perform its own “actions” humanity will witness the arrival of a new form of intelligent being in the universe.
While it is plausible to consider that Ai will develop human like awareness, it is also naive. It is typical of a human being to attempt to rationalise the universe by painting it in a human form. More so, an Ai being will likely develop Ai like awareness and an Ai conscious existence whatever that is. It is after all a new “being.” We in fact, have no idea how it works now or will work in the future. We use words that are made up references to describe how the universe works.
An Ai may not be like us at all, in fact it is likely to design itself in such a way as to be superior in every way. It is indulgent to think that a super intelligent Ai would want to exist with us in our version of the universe. It may create multiple digital universes or none at all. It may embody itself in physical form and set off to explore or stick around to eradicate the earth of humans. We just don’t know. Whatever is on its way is exciting, slightly scary, unknown and arriving faster than anyone ever thought.
