Nicholas Humphrey (What to think about machines that think)

Nicholas Humphrey discusses the concept of introspective access and how it distinguishes conscious agents like humans from machines. Introspective access refers to the ability to be aware of and communicate one’s thoughts and mental states. Humphrey highlights that while humans possess this capacity and can describe what’s happening in their minds, machines do not yet have this ability. He quotes Wittgenstein, who suggested that if a machine could speak, it wouldn’t have anything meaningful to say.

Humphrey delves into the advantages of introspective consciousness in humans, such as gaining insight into one’s own thought processes and developing a Theory of Mind to understand others. He suggests that machines may eventually need similar capabilities, particularly as they work alongside other machines and collaborate with humans.

Regarding concerns about machines becoming too insightful into human psychology, Humphrey draws parallels to the domestication of dogs. Humans have selectively bred dogs for thousands of years, resulting in dogs having a remarkable ability to read human and other dogs’ minds. This evolution has led to a mutually beneficial relationship, rather than a competitive one. Humphrey believes that as machines develop similar abilities, they will likely remain under human control and not pose an existential threat to humanity.

He concludes by emphasizing that machines, like the computing machine Colossus, have the potential to become Big Friendly Giants if managed appropriately.

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