Cambridge University Press Opens New Book "AI and Consciousness" for Free
eschwitz · x · 2026-08-14
Philosopher Eric Schwitzgebel's new book AI and Consciousness, published by Cambridge University Press, is available for free online until August 26.
Key Insights:
- Timeline: Within the next 5 to 30 years, our most advanced AI systems might become as richly conscious as humans, or even more so.
- Uncertainty: AI's humanlike behavior might be a "shadow play of empty mimicry." Genuine consciousness could require intricate biological processes that silicon chips can never replicate.
- Science Lags: The central thesis is that "we do not know." Science lags behind while engineering sprints ahead.
The book explores definitions of consciousness, ten possibly essential features of consciousness, and critically examines the Turing Test, the Chinese Room, and computational functionalism.
Related event: Cambridge Book "AI and Consciousness" Free for Limited Time(2 posts)→
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