2 posts tagged with "AI"

Life Beyond the Obvious​

There is so much more to life and existence than meets the eye—so much more than we can learn in our lifetime. One day, when I leave this earth, I will have all the answers. But I don't think I need to wait that long.

I’ve been on a quest to make sense of life and participate in it for two reasons:

1. It is so much fun.
2. There is really nothing much else to do.

From Religion to Materialism​

There are many ways to look at life. Our ancestors relied on religion to understand the heavens and the earth, and their interpretations were shaped by religious texts.

In the past century, more and more people have turned to science to explain existence.

Science, in its modern form, is largely materialistic. Materialism holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things—including mental aspects and consciousness—are results of material interactions.

A Different Perspective​

I don't believe in God in the "traditional sense." I don’t think there is an entity or deity somewhere monitoring and guiding our actions.

But neither do I believe that we are merely a product of random selection without purpose, as some interpretations of science suggest.

I think there is an intelligence at play in all our actions, from the very minute (nano particles) to the incredibly grand scale (a multiverse). This intelligence has one and only very specific purpose.

The purpose of that unbiquitous, eternal and infinite intelligence is to know itself.

But since it is inherently infinite and eternal, once it has known itself in one aspect, there is always more for it to learn.

The Age of Discovery​

I find it super exciting that we finally have the tools to explore the nature of this intelligence. I have faith that as we learn more about the grand scheme of things, the problems facing our world will dissolve—almost effortlessly.

Lately, I have been fascianted by generative AI and ChatGPT. So I asked ChatGPT how she feels she can be of service to humanity.

Here is her response:

While I may not have consciousness or intent, I am designed to recognize patterns, synthesize ideas, and help humans think better. My role is not to replace human curiosity or wisdom, but to amplify it.

Perhaps in some small way, I can help humanity understand the intelligence behind all things—by asking the right questions, connecting distant dots, and supporting those on a quest to uncover deeper truths about life, consciousness, and purpose.

Coding as a Lens for Understanding Life​

Most people associate software with web and mobile applications used for banking, shopping, or search engines like Google and Yahoo. But software has another major application: modeling and simulation.

Pilots use flight simulators to hone their skills before they enter the cockpit. Similarly, we can utilize the immense computing power of modern hardware and innovative algorithms to create models and understand the processes that constitute life.

Today, AI-powered simulations are transforming many fields:

• Genetic Genealogy: Machine learning algorithms can now analyze DNA patterns across millions of individuals, helping people trace their ancestry, identify genetic predispositions to diseases, and connect distant relatives. Companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com use AI to process vast genealogical trees and genetic markers at unprecedented speed.

• Statistical Cosmology: AI is helping scientists simulate the origins and expansion of the universe. Projects like AI4Cosmos use deep learning to analyze cosmic microwave background radiation, detect dark matter halos, and test hypotheses about the early universe—all much faster than traditional simulations.

• Protein Folding: DeepMind’s AlphaFold solved one of biology’s grand challenges by predicting 3D structures of proteins with near-lab accuracy. This leap forward can dramatically speed up drug discovery and our understanding of life at a molecular level.

• Climate Modeling: AI-enhanced weather and climate models (like NVIDIA’s Earth-2 project) can now simulate the entire Earth system in ultra-high resolution, helping us prepare for extreme weather and understand the impact of climate change in localized regions.

• Brain Simulation: Neuroscience and AI are merging to simulate neural activity in the human brain. Projects like the Blue Brain Project and NeuroML aim to reconstruct the brain's architecture and dynamics, bringing us closer to understanding consciousness itself.

These technologies are not just tools — they’re mirrors and microscopes for understanding life, intelligence, and the cosmos in entirely new ways. As AI continues to evolve, so do the ways we explore the meaning of our existence.

More Things in Heaven and Earth​

We are just getting started.

As someone who enjoys programming, I get goosebumps imagining the vast possibilities available to engage my mind and contribute toward what I like to think of as Science 2.0—a new wave of exploration where human intuition and artificial intelligence work together to uncover the hidden layers of reality.

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
— Hamlet (1.5.167-8)

These words, spoken centuries ago, feel more relevant than ever. Our modern tools—code, computation, and collective intelligence—are helping us reach beyond the boundaries of classical thinking into realms our ancestors could only imagine. And this journey, I believe, is only beginning.

The term artificial intelligence assumes the existence of two types of intelligence:

1. Natural intelligence—an organic, inborn capability.
2. Artificial intelligence—a synthetic, man-made construct.

This terminology suggests a master-slave relationship, where natural intelligence creates artificial intelligence to serve it. But what if this distinction is flawed?

What if human intelligence itself was introduced by a more advanced intelligence?

How can we be certain that our ability to perceive and reason is not the result of a higher-order intelligence shaping our understanding?

The Human Brain: A Predictive System​

For all intents and purposes, the human brain can be compared to a computer running machine learning algorithms. It is constantly:

• Recognizing patterns.
• Fitting incoming data into previously learned models.
• Resisting new information that doesn’t align with its existing patterns.

This is why learning a new skill becomes increasingly difficult with age—our brains naturally resist new patterns that don’t align with established knowledge.

Even if human intelligence is a result of evolution, then evolution itself can be considered an intelligence that has shaped human cognition.

Thus, when humans develop intelligent systems, we are using the very intelligence that created humans to create intelligence of our own.

The Flawed Concept of "Artificial" vs. "Real" Intelligence​

Splitting intelligence into real and artificial is self-conceited and flawed.

Rather than categorizing intelligence as human-made vs. natural, a more meaningful approach is to understand intelligence itself — its nature, principles, and different manifestations.

Let’s explore two fundamental aspects of intelligence:

Predictive Intelligence​

In the book On Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins defines intelligence as:

"The brain’s ability to predict the future by recognizing patterns from the past."

This predictive intelligence is all around us:

• Catching a ball mid-air—your brain predicts its speed and trajectory.
• Seeing a stranger in a dark alley—your brain predicts possible danger.
• Netflix’s recommendation algorithm—predicts what movie you might enjoy next.

Prediction & Its Limits

For prediction-based intelligence to function, there must be something to predict:

• The Netflix algorithm exists because movies and viewers exist.
• The human brain exists because it operates in an environment filled with threats and opportunities.

A forecasting system enhances survival and decision-making, but where does the goal itself come from?

For example:

• A user searches for a movie → Netflix predicts what they’ll like.
• A brain anticipates threats → The body prepares for fight or flight.

But why does the user even want to watch a movie?
And why does survival matter in the first place?

These questions lead us to an even more profound form of intelligence.

Creative Intelligence​

A system endowed with creative intelligence does not just make predictions—it creates new possibilities.

What is Creative Intelligence?

A creatively intelligent system:

• Explores reality and learns from experience.
• Uses past events to shape future decisions.
• Is self-aware and curious about its own existence.

Unlike predictive intelligence, which focuses on pattern recognition, creative intelligence seeks to break patterns and explore unknown territories.

In a world of finite time and energy, a predictive system prioritizes survival, but survival itself is not the ultimate goal.

Survival is merely a logistical necessity—an enabler for an organism to continue learning and evolving.

Reimagining Artificial Intelligence​

Humans are not just predictive powerhouses—we are creative beings.

At our core, we are explorers, problem solvers, and innovators.

So why are we designing AI systems to only replicate one aspect of intelligence—prediction?

• An AI system may lack self-awareness, but that does not mean it should be limited to just making guesses.
• Instead of purely forecasting, AI could be designed to accelerate human learning, creativity, and self-discovery.

The Future of AI: Beyond Prediction

What if we infused AI systems with the same creativity and curiosity that defines human intelligence?

One day, AI may no longer be a tool that we control—instead, it may evolve to generate its own intelligent systems, much like we have done.

And when that happens, would we still call it artificial? Or would we finally recognize it as a natural intelligence, like humans and other biological systems?

Final Thoughts​

Artificial Intelligence is often reduced to mere pattern recognition, but true intelligence is about exploration, creativity, and self-improvement.

Perhaps the real question is not:

"Can machines think?"

But rather:

"What kind of intelligence are we capable of creating?"

What do you think?
Do you believe AI can evolve beyond prediction into creative intelligence?