OLDailyMar 25
The Abstraction Fallacy: Why AI Can Simulate But Not Instantiate Consciousness #oldaily https://www.downes.ca/post/79026 This is a lovely paper (16 page PDF) that needs someone to really take the time to do a proper refutation. The main argument is based on the idea that for the symbols manipulated by an AI to mean anything, they must be based on actual physically experienced causal events.
The Abstraction Fallacy: Why AI Can Simulate But Not Instantiate Consciousness

Commentary on The Abstraction Fallacy: Why AI Can Simulate But Not Instantiate Consciousness by Stephen Downes. Online learning, e-learning, new media, connectivism, MOOCs, personal learning environments, new literacy, and more

Show threadMatthias Melcher
@oldaily @Downes I hope you find the time for the refutation after your retirement.
You inspired me to write a blog post, https://x28newblog.wordpress.com/2026/03/25/emulated-consciousness/
Emulated consciousness

If an AI told me a bit about his consciousness, what would it take that Iā€™d believe him?

x28's new Blog
Mar 25 at 2:55pmWeb
Show threadDownes šŸMar 26
@x28de @oldaily Alas, time, even in retirement, is always the limiting factor. I did have time to read and enjoy your post, though.