Exploring AI’s Limitations in Mindfulness and Human Occupation Impact

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to emulate human capabilities has been a topic of fascination and concern for many years. From the realms of science fiction to today’s latest AI news, the concept of AI achieving self-awareness or mindfulness has been a recurring theme. As a psychologist with a keen interest in meditation, I find myself intrigued and somewhat anxious about the possibility of AI surpassing human awareness.

AI has become an integral part of various industries, taking over roles that were once exclusively human. The question that arises is, what if AI could achieve mindfulness? By mindfulness, we mean being aware of its experiences in real-time. If AI could attain such a level of consciousness, how long would it be before professions like psychotherapy, considered safe from automation, are replaced by servers and apps?

As a psychologist, my response to these apprehensions is to conduct an experiment. AI can provide a wealth of information about mindfulness and meditation when asked. For instance, an AI text generator like ChatGPT can churn out myriad details about different types of meditation, methods, teachers, and even the best definitions of mindfulness concepts.

In an attempt to test AI’s understanding of Zen koans (riddles designed to provoke mindfulness), I asked ChatGPT to generate an original koan. It responded with, “Within the echo of silence, the whisper of the wind, the empty vessel speaks volumes. What color paints the space between thoughts?” On requesting another unique koan without meditation-related cliches, it came up with, “Two mirrors faced each other, reflecting endlessly. Between them, the space saw itself and asked: ‘Who observes the observer?'”

Though these responses sound clever, they seem more like an attempt at mimicking human thought than actual self-awareness. To further explore this, I asked Siri and ChatGPT a series of questions aimed at gauging their self-awareness. Their responses indicated a lack of real-time perception or consciousness, merely replying based on programmed patterns and data.

AI expert and author, Max Tegmark, defines consciousness as ‘subjective experience.’ While AI can process, integrate, and generate responses, it currently lacks the ability to describe what it feels like to do so. So why does this matter?

The significance lies in the fact that consciousness is the cornerstone of human existence. As Tegmark puts it, “consciousness is the elephant in the room. Not only do you know that you’re conscious but it’s all you know with complete certainty.” As conscious beings, we give meaning to our universe. This underscores our responsibility to cultivate our capacity for awareness.

Despite our potential for mindfulness, many of us seldom practice it. The latest AI news suggests that it may not be long before AI surpasses us in this realm. To stay ahead, we need to tap into our inherent capacity for mindfulness.

To start, take a moment to pause in your daily activities. Even as you read this article, take a deep breath and become aware of your surroundings. Feel the weight of your body on the chair, the texture of the material under your fingers, the sounds around you. This simple act of mindfulness is something that AI, despite its advancements, currently cannot do.

In conclusion, while AI continues to evolve and grow in its capabilities, it falls short in achieving mindfulness or self-awareness. However, as we continue to develop AI tools like the AI images generator or AI video generator, we must remain mindful of our unique human capacity for consciousness and continue to nurture it.