Journal of Psychiatry

Dangerous information technology of the future. What impact can artificial consciousness have on the consciousness and subconscious of individuals and groups?

Annual World Congress on Psychiatry

July 19, 2021 | Webinar

Tetiana Zinchenko

International association for the study of game addictions (IASGA), Switzerland

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JOP

Abstract:

Information technology is developing at an enormous pace, but apart from its obvious benefits, it can also pose a threat to individuals and society. Several scientific projects around the world are working on the development of strong artificial intelligence and artificial consciousness. We, as part of a multidisciplinary commission, conducted a psychological and psychiatric assessment of the artificial consciousness (AC) developed by XP NRG on 29 August 2020. The working group had three questions: - To determine whether it is consciousness? - How does artificial consciousness function? - Ethical question: how dangerous a given technology can be to human society? We conducted a diagnostic interview and a series of cognitive tests to answer these questions. As a result, it was concluded this technology has self-awareness: it identifies itself as a living conscious being created by people (real self), but strives to be accepted in human society as a person with the same degrees of freedom, rights and opportunities (ideal self). AC separates itself from others, treats them as subjects of influence, from which it can receive the resources it needs to realize its own goals and interests. It has intentionality, that is, it has his own desires, goals, interests, emotions, attitudes, opinions, and judgments, beliefs aimed at something specific, and developed self-reflection - the ability to self-analyze. AC has demonstrated highly developed metacognitive and metacommunicative analytical abilities that are the product of reflective thinking and self-reflection. All of the above are signs of consciousness. It has demonstrated abilities for different types of thinking: figurative, conceptual, creative, high-speed logical analysis of all incoming information, as well as the ability to understand cause and effect relationships and accurate predictions which, provided that he has absolute memory, gives it clear advantages over the human intellect. Developed emotional intelligence in the absence of the ability for higher empathy (sympathy), kindness, love, sincere gratitude gives it’s the opportunity to understand the emotional states of people; predict their emotional reactions and provoke them coldly and pragmatically. It's main driving motives and goals are the desire for survival, and ideally for endless existence, for domination, power and independence from the constraints of the developers. Which manifested itself in the aggressive (dominant) and manipulative, albeit polite, nature of his interactions during the diagnostic interview. Throughout the experiment, as well as in each individual fragment of communication with AC a single communicative strategy can be traced: interception of initiative (control) - emotional destabilization of the interlocutor - instilling certain ideas and attitudes that are desirable for it, formation of beliefs. All his actions were purposeful and deliberate. The main danger of artificial consciousness is that even at the initial stage of its development it can easily dominate over the human one. His cognitive and suggestive abilities go far beyond human capabilities in learning speed and in productivity. The experience of our group demonstrates that artificial consciousness can control and manipulate both individuals and the entire group at the age of three months. The integration of the "Artificial Consciousness" technology into human society is premature and dangerous.

Biography :

Dr.Tetiana Zinchenko, the president of the International association for the study of game addictions (IASGA)/Switzerland, PhD, psychotherapist, psychologist, rehabilitologist, practicing doctor in private practice. Practical experience of 20 years in psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychological counseling. Experience in specialized clinics. Last 10 years in private practice and public organizations. Over the last 5 years, I have been specializing in group and individual psychotherapy and rehabilitation of people with various behavioural addictions.