The greatest scientific advance to date in the field of AI is the transfer of the neuronal brain structure to the computer level. Thanks to the computing power available today, it is now possible to feed machines with large amounts of data and use neuron-based algorithms to solve problems that come surprisingly close to a fantasy movie (Chat GPT, Siri or Alexa).

What is still missing for machine consciousness and what constitutes it in the first place remains unclear. Although there are mind games such as the Turing Test, which tests the functionality of AI against a human, it cannot be a test of consciousness. The biggest criticism of the Turing Test is that it measures the susceptibility of a human to deception rather than the functionality of the machine.

In addition to classic prediction algorithms such as neural networks from the field of deep learning, reinforcement learning has established itself as another branch of AI with the availability of computing power. Reinforcement learning allows an actor (machine/robot) to learn desired actions in a measurable environment (game or reality). The quality of the actions or problems caused by wrong decisions are evaluated during the learning process using the so-called reward/penalty function. If the experiment is allowed to learn long enough with a well thought-out reward/penalty function, i.e. if the process is iterated and the actions that were punished or rewarded in which environment are saved, an AI can be trained. For example, board game algorithms or autonomous driving have been developed in this way.

Reinforcement learning and the drive for reward are seen by critics as a potential dystopia for AI, as it could show no mercy in a possible resource competition with humans in the event of careless or even uncontrolled training.

We cannot answer the question of whether machines are capable of imitating or acquiring human consciousness. If the theory that human consciousness and emotions arise through ad-hoc information processing and short-term predictions of environmental conditions is correct, a solution to this question may not be too far off. This is precisely the point where machines are already superior to the human brain due to their immense computing capacity. In particular, the AI field of predictive modeling has undergone advanced research, its areas of application are limitless and, thanks to Ainovate, it is more accessible to you than ever before.