The exploration of consciousness and its interaction with reality transcends traditional philosophical inquiry and becomes a pressing challenge for humanity.
The question of whether AI can attain consciousness and how we might discern such awareness becomes paramount, as brain-interface technology and artificial intelligence advance.
There’s contemplation of the incorporation of human or animal elements, like neurons, into machines and robots, raising questions about whether they could possess subjective experiences.
The debate extends to whether consciousness can be reduced to physicalism or if it retains fundamental properties. Moreover, in a scenario where machine-brain interaction leads to criminal actions, the issue of legal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt comes into play, as it forces us to ponder the existence of free will.
Consciousness is an evolving topic connected to physics, engineering, neuroscience and many other fields. Understanding the interplay between consciousness, energy and matter could bring important insights into our fundamental understanding of reality,
Dr Mahendra Samarawickrama.
Dr Mahendra Samarawickrama, an esteemed specialist in AI and computer science, and recipient of the Australian Computer Society's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Professional of the Year award, applies his expertise in physics and artificial neural networks to grapple with these profound questions. His recent contribution to the discourse is a peer-reviewed paper presented at the 11th International Conference on Mathematical Modelling in Physical Sciences, titled "Unifying Matter, Energy, and Consciousness," now published in the AIP (the American Institute of Physics) Conference Proceedings.
Dr Samarawickrama holds the distinguished position of an Honorary Visiting Scholar within the School of Computer Science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). At UTS, his valuable contributions are directed towards advancing research in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence with a particular emphasis on their societal implications and social impact.
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