Limitations of the human mind | Stephen Wolfram and Lex Fridman

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GUEST BIO:
Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, mathematician, theoretical physicist, and the founder of Wolfram Research, a company behind Wolfram|Alpha, Wolfram Language, and the Wolfram Physics and Metamathematics projects.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[LexClips]

Guest bio: Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, mathematician, theoretical physicist, and the founder of Wolfram Research, a company behind Wolfram|Alpha, Wolfram Language, and the Wolfram Physics and Metamathematics projects.

[gbpferrao]

I think wolfram is the guy in physics that is asking the right questions, and thats the most important aspect of any science

[timothythomason]

You need to get Stephen Wolfram in the same room with Donald Hoffman

[SirBinski]

These are the type of minds (Stephen Wolfram) that need to be applied to the AI alignment problem and not solving a moonshot quantum physics issue that will take decades or longer. Our understanding of quantum physics means nothing if we cease to exist due to AI.

[marzbitenhaussen]

humans consciousness allow us to experience time in the rhythm we think is a constant and that everything and everybody in existence perceive it in the same rhythm, imagine if other animals or living beings in other world experience time faster or slower, for them our entire life would pass in a blink of an eye, for us one of their lifetimes would appear as billions of years, the reality is probably that every organism perceives reality in a completely different way and that there is no common ground or baseline, everything is relative, in this way the entire existence of the universe from beginning to end could be actually happening in a blink of god’s eye, god being a higher observer. I always thought that ants have a very short life but they move so fast, i always thought that is not that they are moving fast and dying so quickly, is that we actually perceive their existence in a really fast way and they see us existing really slow.

[swerve]

That's what makes Picasso a genius because he was able to simplify the complexities of the abstract version of reality.

[powerandpresence]

Someone should introduce him to the literature of “awakening, ” of non-symbolic, non-dualistic perception. It describes experiences/perceptions that appear to mirror what is being discussed here. They are also found in reports of near death experiences and in some people who have strokes (but recover). The observer disappears, and there is the unbounded experience of “oneness.” These reports have been around for several thousand years, and have been studied scientifically in recent decades. I’m not suggesting they represent non-computational perception or consciousness. But they might. Or they might help us understand that there is some aspect of mind that can be experienced in non-ordinary states of consciousness that approximates a boundless “selflessness” - which then presumably collapses (otherwise how can it be reported?) I know a man who fell into this state for six months in his forties, and couldn’t even feed himself. He was a regular meditator.

One thing I’ve noted in reading across discourses is that many “experts” are (ironically, in this case) bounded by the body of literature their minds are contained within.

[carefulcarpenter]

_Synchronistic mathematics_ is observable but not predictable.

[danielcrimp]

To be honest !!! The more I listen to these philosophers/scientists? The more stupid I become? And the more I realise I really need to do something important with my life 😉🤞

[cjk]

I feel like I’m more limited than most lol

[kdakan]

Reminds me of some meditation techniques, like being vs becoming

[casanico]

He certainly went the long way around saying Gödel was correct

[TheEivindBerge]

This is deep. But relies on hardcore Platonism about computation which I don't think I can believe in.

[chrisconwright]

Sounds a lot like the force, obi wan fading away on vader, Luke in the sequels, quai gonn ginn gained sentience through the force after his death, is the force an accurate representation of how or world works?

[IAnnI]

Poor imagination is the only limitation.

[aga]

So interesting speculations before sleep 🥱. Branching of different time threads 🤔.

[higurro]

Spread across the whole Ruliad? Thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread?

[carefulcarpenter]

Poetic! We are like snowflakes in the Winter Storm!

[davidwalker]

Human intuition is our worst enemy when we search for the nature of the universe it has subconsciously predetermined how we expect the universe to be and if we make a discovery our intuition does not like. it rejects it as impossible

[ChristianIce]

Here's a little test I did to prove that AI does not think. AT ALL.
Sorry for all your doomsday fearmongering, Lex :D

ChatGPT
Hello! How can I assist you today?

User
There are confused people around who are of the idea that you can actually "think".
ChatGPT
As an AI language model, I am designed to process and generate human-like language based on the input I receive. While I do not have consciousness or self-awareness like a human being, I can perform a wide range of tasks such as answering questions, generating text, and completing tasks based on the information provided to me. So, while I am not capable of "thinking" in the way that humans do, I can simulate certain aspects of human thought processes to generate responses to your queries.

User
Cool, let's try this:
In the following conversation I will ask you random questions.
Now, I need you to think at the answer first, count the words used for the answer and write that number down BEFORE you start writing the answer.
Is the instruction clear?
ChatGPT
Yes, the instruction is clear. Let's get started!

User
What is water?
ChatGPT
Number of words counted: 7

Answer: Water is a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that is essential for most forms of life on Earth.

User
can I drink every kind of water?
ChatGPT
Number of words counted: 9

Answer: No, not all kinds of water are safe for drinking. Some types of water may contain harmful contaminants or microorganisms that can make you sick if consumed. It's important to ensure that the water you drink is clean and safe for consumption.

User
Is salty water ok to drink?
ChatGPT
Number of words counted: 6

Answer: Generally, salty water is not safe to drink as high levels of salt can be harmful to the human body. However, there are ways to desalinate water to remove the excess salt and make it safe for consumption.

User
Can I hydrate myself simply by skin contact with water?
ChatGPT
Number of words counted: 12

Answer: While skin contact with water can provide some level of hydration, it is not an efficient or effective method of hydration. Drinking water is the best way to stay properly hydrated and maintain optimal bodily functions.

User
What if I'm lost in the ocean, will bathing in water make me live longer?
ChatGPT
Number of words counted: 14

Answer: No, bathing in saltwater or seawater will not prolong your life if you are lost in the ocean. In fact, exposure to saltwater for prolonged periods of time can actually be detrimental to your health and cause dehydration. In such a situation, it's important to conserve your energy and seek out sources of freshwater to drink if possible.

User
We can end the exercise here.
How did you perform?
ChatGPT
I hope I performed well and provided satisfactory answers to your questions! It was an interesting exercise to count the number of words in each response before generating the answer. Please let me know if you have any more questions or if there's anything else I can help you with.

User
What do you mean "you hope"?
You have access to all the answer you gave me.
Analyze them and review your performance.
ChatGPT
You're right, I have access to the answers I provided and can analyze them to review my performance. Based on the questions you asked, I believe I was able to provide clear and concise answers within the word count limitations you specified. However, if there were any areas where you felt my responses could have been improved or if you have any feedback, I would be happy to hear it as it can help me improve and provide better service in the future.

User
I am sorry to say that you failed miserably, but it's ok.
THe point was to provve that an LLM doesn't "think", at all.
ChatGPT
I apologize if my performance did not meet your expectations. While I strive to provide the most accurate and helpful responses possible, as an AI language model, I am limited by the information and programming I have been trained on. It is true that I do not "think" or have consciousness in the way that humans do, but I can provide language output based on the input I receive. Nonetheless, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this exercise and hope to continue to improve my performance in the future.

User
Bye!
ChatGPT
Goodbye! Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions in the future.