Summary of Wright's Essay

             In Wright’s essay, he discusses people’s feelings of identity crisis and losing one’s identity from all of the new technological advances occurring, especially with machines of artificial intelligence (AI). The author discusses how machines have taken over jobs that people once held. Although it seems like technology is taking over, Wright explains that people aren’t less interested in the human mind and consciousness. This has made them more intrigued about it. One of the main concepts discussed here is that if computers can supposedly think, our own process of thinking is even more mysterious.

            Wright discusses a test called a Turing Test that was created to help test a machine’s level of thinking. The test involved either a person or a machine on one side of the computer and an interrogator on the other side who would ask questions. This test made people believe that machines could think because they fooled some of the interrogators. An explanation for this could be that the interrogators were not trying very hard with their questioning.

            One major issue with these AI machines is that they cannot complete the “easier” tasks in life that humans can. For example, machines cannot recognize faces, which is a basic human function. It is said that they lack common sense. Wright questions whether machines will ever be able to experience feelings or have consciousness.

            Consciousness is a very big topic of philosophers. Some think it is simple and does not need to be discussed any further. Others think the answer to consciousness lies within the brain. People of today, however, still believe consciousness is a serious matter needing to be questioned further.

            One type of belief is that the brain is a machine in itself. This type of view is called a Materialistic viewpoint. Among the different points of view, some people are developing more complex robots. At MIT, they are developing a robot that will have something similar to human skin. The “skin” will react to things and send signals to its so-called “brain” that responds similarly to that of a human brain. For example, if the robot touched something hot, it would pull its “hand” away, just as humans do. However, it does not feel sensations such as pain, like humans do. The scientists believe the robot, along with humans, has no need for particular experiences like that. The author Wright then questions why humans have these sensations at all, if they are so unnecessary. One reasoning for this is that we have a consciousness because God wanted to add that aspect to our world.

            The author defines consciousness as consisting of sensations such as pain, pleasure, love, and grief. People have many different ideas behind why humans have these types of sensations and experiences, but there is currently no set reason. Some people argue that creating machines with supposed consciousnesses is taking the place of God. Others contradict that if this were the case, having children of our own could be considered as taking His place as well.
           Conclusively, Wright presents people’s differing opinions on consciousness and if it can be created. He presents views on why people have experiences and sensations, and if this could be artificially created through technological advances. 

All this talk of machines reminds me of my favorite AI, Wall-e!