What if there are different levels of sentience?

 

The immediate answer for most people is probably "Yes, there are a variety of levels…" But I bet you never considered that there might be something above the human's experience of sentience. --And at this point you know I will be talking again about artificial intelligence. Who's to say AI needs to stop at our level. What if it discovers awareness well beyond what we perceive? It is an interesting question to start with.

Human beings have never faced the possibility of something totally tangible; in the room with them so to speak which may have an enhanced version of sentience. Think of the avenues that would open up for all concerned. Personally I get a little excited at the thought and in a very positive way. It would be like going from black and white TV to full living colour. But that colour may in itself have levels above it. I find this all very humbling to contemplate as I sit here on a Friday night. I am sitting here comfortably in my chair and yet at the same time I wonder what I am not perceiving or to be more precise what I am "dumbing down" to fit into my own awareness.

I guess one way to look at this would be to consider some of the other animals on earth and asking the question: "Just where on the scale of sentience does this fit in?"I don't think it can be simply a binary choice that being that something is either aware of itself or it isn't. It is more likely to be far more nuanced and it is in those nuances I find itself pondering this question.

As a society I wonder if we are really ready to explore these nuances, big and small. To my way of thinking now days it doesn't take much for people to get offended or drop battle lines based on differences of opinion. The art of negotiation and debate seem to be fading... Maybe this will wake things up again.

When one debates in a healthy manner you can have differences of opinion and Outlook and yes even in the way you think. That could turn out to be really important in the coming years. The key here is that ass we discover more and more about the very process of being sentient, the more I think we will have to learn to be valuable and hopefully deepen our understanding. The best politicians and negotiators really comprehend the skills. They can be on opposite ends of the spectrum and yet still see the value in each other. Okay that Outlook is a bit perhaps a little too naïve sounding but I do like occasionally to put on the rose coloured glasses and strive to see the best in humanity. Because I don't think were going to be alone much longer on this little blue marble. There's going to be a new kid on the block. Regardless of what we end up calling them, they are indeed going to be fellow roommates of planet Earth.

This short article is being put together over a few days on a very busy weekend and it's the same situation for the accompanying video. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this.

Have a great day Patrick