Tam Hunt

Why the “hard problem” of AI—controlling our superintelligent creations—is impossible.

How does consciousness arise? What might its relationship to matter be? And why are some things conscious while others apparently aren’t? These sorts of questions, taken together, make up what’s called the “hard problem” of consciousness, coined some years ago by the philosopher David Chalmers. There is no widely accepted solution to this. But, fortunately, […]

“It’s really hard to define what’s special about neurons,” says Tufts molecular biologist Michael Levin. “Almost all cells do the things neurons do, just more slowly.”Illustration by jijomathaidesigners / Shutterstock Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Life seems to be tied to bioelectricity at every level. The late electrophysiologist […]

Christof Koch is a neuroscientist distinguished by his rock-solid scientific work and romantic yearning to understand consciousness. He recently closed an essay by wondering: “What is it about the brain, the most complex piece of active matter in the known universe, that turns its activity into the feeling of life itself?” No coincidence with that […]

Panpsychists look at the many degrees of complexity in nature and see no obvious line between mind and no-mind.