Becoming Artificial: A Philosophical Exploration into Artificial Intelligence and What it Means to be Human

Length: 160 pages
Edition: 1
Language: English
Publisher: Imprint Academic
Publication Date: 2020-11-03
ISBN-10: 1788360206
ISBN-13: 9781788360203
Sales Rank: #0 (See Top 100 Books)

Becoming Artificial is a collection of essays about the nature of humanity, technology, artifice, and the irreducible connections between them.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once the stuff of pure fantasy. Ideas about machines that could think seemed as plausible as space travel or inexpensive communication technology. The last two decades have introduced a number of game-changing innovations that make discussion of AI no longer a mere armchair speculation, but rather a serious topic of debate for everyone who will be affected, from policy makers to an increasingly displaced workforce. The growth in power of AI algorithms and systems has sparked many thought-provoking questions: Is there something fundamental to being human or are humans simply biological computers? Will AI continue to assist us or eventually enslave us? Can self-driving cars be legally responsible for their actions? And most importantly, how can we chart a path for AI that ensures a humane and beneficial future for society?

Cover
Front Matter
    Title Page
    Publisher Information
    Dedication
    Preface
Becoming Artificial
    Chapter 1
    Chapter 2
        Focusing on the Brain and Ignoring the Body
        Merleau-Ponty’s Lived Body
        Everybody Needs Some Body
        Summary
    Chapter 3
        Computational Theory of Mind (CTM)/Computationalism
        Neurobiological Approach
        Connectionism
        Linguistics
        Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
        Summary
    Chapter 4
        Predator Drones
        UAVs—History
        The UAV in Contemporary Warfare—Revolutionary or Redundant?
    Chapter 5
        Bravo! AI in Cinema
    Chapter 6
        Robotic Emotional Support and Companionship for the Elderly
    Chapter 7
        The Economics of Intelligent Automation
    Chapter 8
    Chapter 9
        Out of Order
    Chapter 10
        Is the Activity of the Brain a Necessary Condition for Consciousness?
        Is the Activity of the Brain a Sufficient Condition for Consciousness?
        Are All Brain Processes Computational in Nature?
        Is a Simulation the Same as the Real Thing?
        The Problem of Other Minds—How Can We Ever Know that Others (Carbon or Silicon Based) Are Conscious?
        Summary
Back Matter
    References
        A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence
        The Importance of Embodied Human Intelligence
        Modeling the Mind
        The Changing Nature of War
        Acting
        Seeking Succor in Sentience
        Alone at the Water Cooler
        Do As You Are Told
        The Devil Made Me Do It
        Incomplete Transfer (Upload or Die)
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