Technology expert Shelly Palmer, Professor of Advanced Media at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, and NewsNation Morning in America host Adrienne Bankert, discuss the controversial topic of achieving immortality through transferring a person’s consciousness to AI. Palmer debunks claims that we are close to achieving immortality by creating realistic AI avatars of deceased loved ones, labeling it as pseudoscience and a misunderstanding of AI capabilities.
Palmer explains the current state of generative AI tools, such as GPT-4 and Llama, which can be trained to mimic an individual’s speech patterns and thought processes based on recordings or writings. However, he emphasizes that these AI models do not transfer a person’s consciousness and are merely reflections of the person. The interview also touches upon the undefined nature of consciousness and intelligence, as well as the potential motivations behind inventors pursuing this technology to cope with grief and loss.
Palmer encourages focusing on the positive aspects of AI advancements, including increased productivity and problem-solving abilities, rather than delving into the unsettling implications of trying to achieve immortality.
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