Let's do a thought experiment about the new era of artificial intelligence, and what it could mean for the period ahead.
Let’s pretend AI becomes so powerful it can create a simulation of reality and put you living in it without you being aware, like what happened to humanity in the sci-fi classic film The Matrix.
If AI could advance that far, maybe it has done so already? Would we know it, if we were currently living in a simulation?
It brings to mind the the central question posed in the seminal work of 17th century French philosopher René Descartes – 'can we really know anything for certain?'
"It's a very old idea - the ancient philosopher Plato said 'maybe we're living in a cave, just seeing shadows on the cave wall,’" says Professor David Chalmers of New York University.
"I guess the one thing that has changed, or at least developed over the years is the technology. Previously, it was just hypothetical and science fictional. Now, we actually have virtual reality technology."
Professor Chalmers is prominent philosopher focused on the field of consciousness. Much of his work has examined the intersections between the human mind and technology.
"Someone can now strap on a VR headset, and it's as if they are embodied inside a simulated world. We're not yet at the point where the simulations are indistinguishable from physical reality, but give it a few decades, we'll probably get there," he says.
"At that point, once we actually have simulations which are indistinguishable from physical reality, it will become a very serious question. How do we know we haven't been in one of those simulations all along?"
Professor Chalmers says in the coming decades or centuries we will likely see humans becoming increasingly digital beings, as artificial intelligence develops and our perceived reality is augmented by AI tools, and eventually mixes with virtual reality.
"Our minds have become more and more digital. We already use smartphones to store so many of our memories, like phone numbers, photographs, to do navigation for us, to do planning. So, we're already maybe 10- or 20 percent ‘cyborg’ with digital technology."
"Give it time, who knows? 40- or 50 percent?"
The acceleration in AI technology has led to much discussion about the potential uses in virtual reality environments, including video games.
Interactions with non player-controlled characters in so-called open world games are currently limited to pre-loaded sentences and conversation structures.
In future, it’s likely such characters will be powered by limited versions of language generating tools like ChatGPT, which can follow conversations and provide specific responses to user questions. It will lead to such characters appearing as much more plausible simulations of real humans.
It’s also led to consideration being given to how people may interact with their memories – their minds - in future.
Some AI companies have already begun developing software that allows users to place videos and photographs taken in the past within their VR-headset environment, as a 3D rendering.
You would place your VR headset on and look at the video you had taken in the past, and it would be placed within your vision as a scene with visual depth and dimensions.
Or to describe that in another way, a potential early version of a portal into the past through virtual reality.
Your memories — how you remember them pic.twitter.com/eRwIK6xYTF
— Wist: Immersive Memories (@WistLabs) February 21, 2023
"I think we could very much get used to living into these mixed physical-digital environments with the aid of AI," says Professor Chalmers.
"For example, maybe there will be automatic person recognition soon using smart glasses. I walk into a room and I've forgotten someone's name - well, my augmented reality glasses will recognise them and just write up their name on the screen for me."
"I think you can see utopian visions here. You can also see dystopian visions. There's a utopian vision where we get to control our environment. We get whole new forms of embodiment, whole new forms of expression. We can travel instantly around the world, see anybody, anytime."
"But at the same time, the dystopian potential is enormous. I mean, for example, who's running these virtual worlds? Is it corporations, and if they're controlling the world around us, what does that mean for our privacy, for our autonomy?"
"If you think social media companies are bad for invading our lives and so on, just wait till that applies to the entire digital world that you inhabit."
The path to discovering we’re living in a simulation may be paved with jeopardy.
Seeking to balance the discussion, Prime Time sought other opinions on the idea that humans may be living in a simulation.
Professor Barry O’Sullivan of University College Cork is a former president of the European Association of Artificial Intelligence.
His expertise is rooted in the development of artificial intelligence, and the impact on humanity it could have for people within our lifetimes.
"Is it possible this is all someone's simulation? Well, I don't think so," he said, clearly enjoying the thought experiment.
Before adding "but I'm not sure how I'd possibly know if it was."
With opinions somewhat divided, we asked ChatGPT.
"While AI has made significant advancements in various fields, such as image recognition, natural language processing, and decision-making, simulating an entire reality with conscious beings is currently beyond our reach."
Sounds positive.
"It is unlikely that AI will create a simulation and put humans in it without their knowledge," ChatGPT told Prime Time.
"The responsible development and deployment of AI prioritise ethical considerations and respect for human rights."
Phew.
