Development of sentient and non-sentient artificial intelligence

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Development of Sentient and Non-Sentient Artificial Intelligence
Scientists have put much effort into Artificial Intelligence to produce computer programs that perform better than the most talented human being. Most of these programs have defeated world-class players in the games they play best such as chess. Activities such as chess should require both intelligence and understanding. The developments, therefore, lead to the question of whether the ability for the computer program to defeat the world-class players and converse in native languages proves that computers are intelligent. Searle holds differing opinions concerning the ability of computers to have a fully formed conscious stating that it includes a phenomenal state of awareness that cannot be manipulated. The argument of an artificial machine being able to have a conscience has been an important topic of discussion over the years as different computer theorists formulate arguments that contradict Searle’s claims. Searle has some compelling argument regarding the matter. I strongly believe that Searle provides a fully structured argument and evidence to support his claims and therefore, computers are unable to be conscious.
Searle’s Argument
Searle agrees with the scientific definition of weak AI because it is regarded as a tool that enables us to test and formulate a hypothesis in a manner that is much more precise and rigorous (Searle 417). On the other hand, Searle does not hold similar opinions concerning strong AI because it is not only portrayed as a useful tool in the study of the mind, but it is the mind. The mind means that computers can have different cognitive states such as understanding. Searle explains that the conscience is the primary and most significant feature of our mind (Searle 40). He argues that consciousness is not an entity, but rather ‘states.’ In all its forms, the most important features of consciousness are its subjective, qualitative and inner nature (Searle 41). Consciousness is inner because any one of our conscious states exists only as an element in a sequence of the states. Conscious states also have qualitative characters since they each feel a certain way. More so, the fact that both human and animal subjects always experience conscious states proves that the conscious state is subjective (Searle 42). According to Searle, it is impossible for artificial machines to have all three of these states and most importantly, the states cannot be manipulated. The Chinese Room Argument also provides further claims from Searle concerning consciousness. Although the main argument involves imagined human simulation of a computer, claims regarding the mind and body can be closely linked to his disapproval on strong AI. In the Chinese Room Argument, the human in the Chinese Room manipulates Chinese symbols using the instructions presented in English, whereby the machine fetches instructions from a program presented in computing language. By following the instructions written in English to manipulate the Chinese symbols, a human being forms the idea of comprehending Chinese. However, since the computer’s actions are based on instructions from the huma...