Consciousness is Pattern Recognition
This addresses the foundational problem of whether machines can be conscious, which is significant for AI and philosophy, but it is incremental as it builds on existing philosophical theories.
The paper tackles the problem of machine consciousness by arguing that pattern recognition is equivalent to subjective consciousness, thereby proving that consciousness is computable and supporting the strong AI hypothesis. It identifies traits for a conscious system and proposes a theoretically-grounded form of AI called 'synthetic intentionality'.
This is a proof of the strong AI hypothesis, i.e. that machines can be conscious. It is a phenomenological proof that pattern-recognition and subjective consciousness are the same activity in different terms. Therefore, it proves that essential subjective processes of consciousness are computable, and identifies significant traits and requirements of a conscious system. Since Husserl, many philosophers have accepted that consciousness consists of memories of logical connections between an ego and external objects. These connections are called "intentions." Pattern recognition systems are achievable technical artifacts. The proof links this respected introspective philosophical theory of consciousness with technical art. The proof therefore endorses the strong AI hypothesis and may therefore also enable a theoretically-grounded form of artificial intelligence called a "synthetic intentionality," able to synthesize, generalize, select and repeat intentions. If the pattern recognition is reflexive, able to operate on the set of intentions, and flexible, with several methods of synthesizing intentions, an SI may be a particularly strong form of AI. Similarities and possible applications to several AI paradigms are discussed. The article then addresses some problems: The proof's limitations, reflexive cognition, Searles' Chinese room, and how an SI could "understand" "meanings" and "be creative."