Recent remark by Prof. Hawkins on rapid progress of artificial machine and similar concern from few other experts has created a global concern among the thoughtful person. The statement was a matter of contemplation since the statement arose from the scientist of elite esteem. Prof Hawkins said "The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of
the human race." Thereafter, and of course many other similar concern, started many discussion on this subject. Several debates, for and against, are discussed in many forums [1]. Some of the thinkers state the machine shall remain ever under control of human, whereas other claim machine will surpass us and one day will control us. Thereby the danger of human extinction is inevitable. Serious discussion among AI scientists, the reductionist, psychologist, musician/artist, quantum physicists, mathematician, neuro-scientists, and computer scientists have been continuing throughout the years. The discussion can be summarized in following two questions: 1) What enables machine to be superior over the man, 2) Can machine be made self sustainable? The first question needs the answer by comparative study of machine versus man and the second question needs the answer by studying the necessary capability that can be build upon for sustainability of machine.
Often the debate and discussion on this topic goes back to the more fundamental question, Whether machine is self-aware? rather more fundamental question: What is life and matter?
The Vedic literature presents the knowledge about life and matter very lucidly. The life differs from the matter because it does not poses any consciousness. And consciousness is the fundamental to life. Matter is not sentient. Since the computer or any machine as such is build from matter shall never pose consciousness in it. Therefor the machine never be sentient. Since the machine can never be sentient it does lack many of the properties that human poses. One such properties that human being uniquely poses is the "quest for reality". This is very much evident from the observation of human activity in the existing nature. Human as a result of this "quest" have been continuously changing with new innovation and new life style etc. Human being has developed science and technology and still continuing the quest for better and best life. This is one of the crucial and unique nature of human being. This nature can not be imprinted into the machine in any way. The machine is limited in the territory of its knowledge base, it can quest into the unknown. If it has to explore the unknown it needs the assistance of human. Hence the machine shall ever depend on human.
[1] https://www.edge.org/conversation/john_brockman-what-to-think-about-machines-that-think
Jaynarayan,
Bangalore, India