Research Paper Intro

Currently, technological advancement is increasing at an incredible pace. Computers become obsolete after merely one or two years, and newer versions of software are outperforming the older ones, doing twice as much in half the time. In the field of artificial intelligence, newer, more developed AI are able to perform “human” tasks with greater and greater accuracy: driving cars, recognizing handwriting, and identifying voices to name a few. As technological progress inevitably marches on, AI interaction will inevitably reach a point where it can no longer be distinguishable from human interaction. This will inevitably raise the question: when do these AI stop being “programs” and become “alive,” full-fledged living beings which should be treated as sentient equals? Research in the area suggests sentience is tied to emotion, as evidenced in the article, “Emotion in Human and Artificial Intelligence” written by Juan Martinéz-Miranda and Arantza Aldea, which talks about the relations between the two and some of the practical applications of human emotion in artificial intelligence. However, some argue otherwise, such as Sherry Turkle in her essay “Alone Together,” which insinuates that technology can be considered “alive” with human interaction and time, much like how a stuffed animal becomes just as real to a child as any living animal. However, this view ignores emotion, which is an integral part of what makes people and other living creatures “alive.” More specifically, the ability to empathize is what allows humans to understand others’ emotions and to be “alive.” This claim is supported by O’Brien’s essay “How to Tell a True War Story,” which emphasizes the ability to empathize as a concrete part of human interaction. What this means for AI development is that emotion is a definite requirement along the path to becoming “alive,” moreover research in the area of neuroscience has been able to isolate the processes which generate emotion as described in “Love 2.0” by Barbara Fredrickson. The application of this research into AI development paves the way for AI to begin to learn how to feel, and more importantly, how to empathize, which will allow it to hold “human” interactions with others. Though, just possessing the ability to empathize would be a huge achievement for AI development, it doesn’t mean the AI has truly become alive just yet. For the AI to become “alive,” it must form a unique consciousness using its ability to feel and empathize. Much like how biology gives humans the architecture, then experiences build character, these basic abilities must be programmed into an AI, then and only then will the AI be able to develop a personality and consciousness, becoming “alive” beyond the basic biological meaning.