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Theoretical upper limit on AI’s potential
To elaborate, there are two types of discoveries: Type I discoveries that are based on existing knowledge, and Type II discoveries which cannot come from existing knowledge.
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File photo of AI / Pexels
Is there an upper limit on the ultimate potential of artificial intelligence for good or bad? We think so.
To elaborate, there are two types of discoveries: Type I discoveries that are based on existing knowledge, and Type II discoveries which cannot come from existing knowledge.
Type I discoveries amount to connecting the dots in the ocean of existing knowledge. They are consistent with the philosophy of 18th-century German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, which asserts, “all knowledge begins with the senses, flows then to the understanding, and ends in reason. There is nothing higher than reason.”
Products of reason include sciences, laws, policies, regulations, etc.
Type II discoveries do not come from existing knowledge. In Sanskrit, Type II discoveries go by the name, Shruti, meaning revealed. Many of the ancient Indian discoveries such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagvad Geeta, and Brahma Sutra are Type II discoveries. There wasn’t much knowledge in humanity’s database for these discoveries to draw from. The 19th-century yogi, Swami Vivekananda explains Type II discoveries thus: “Indian thought dares to seek and successfully find something higher than reason.”
Here are some examples of Type I and Type II discoveries.
The ancient metaphorical Puranic stories tell us that the universe came out of nothing. The nothingness is Shiva, or cosmic consciousness, and primordial energy, or Parvati, creates the universe. This would be a Type II discovery. Amanda Gefter corroborated this discovery in her book, “Trespassing on Einstein’s Lawn” 2014 and Jim Kowall showed that the nothingness of the void cannot be anything else but consciousness. These would be Type I discoveries. Deshpande and Kowall have shown how the nature of ultimate reality can lead to a more peaceful world.
In the Bhagvad Geeta, Sri Krishna counsels that the transformation of the three components of the mindset, S, R, and T, induces repeated rise and decline of civilizations. This would be a Type II discovery. Deshpande has found the corroborative evidence in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Deshpande has also shown how the wisdom in the Bhagvad Geeta can be used to postpone the decline of civilizations. This would be Type I discovery.
How are Type II discoveries made?
A Type II discovery can come when an aspirant transcends reason. This is accomplished by enhancing the focus of attention as in contemplation, meditation or prayer. Many of the scientific discoveries in the West are possibly Type II discoveries for which the inquirers had enhanced their focus of attention, albeit unknowingly.
Discovering if something is a Type I discovery or a Type II discovery itself is a fascinating topic. Ponder if Einstein’s special relativity theory, e = mc2, general relativity theory, Ramanujan’s theorems, Kaprekar mysterious number, 6,174, Shankaracharya’s Vedic Mathematics, etc., are Type II discoveries. No matter how a discovery comes about, it must be corroborated by data and evidence. Once a Type II discovery is made and corroborated, it becomes a part of the ocean of existing knowledge and is available for inquirers to make new Type I discoveries.
With this background, we can take up the question of whether there is an upper limit on the ultimate potential of artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence programs have access to the world’s entire knowledge base, information, and facts, and they possess an extraordinary ability to interpret, interpolate, extrapolate, and make sense of the present knowledge base of humanity.
AI has already shown its ability to beat the best humans in specific tasks. We have witnessed the outstanding performance of AI systems such as Chat GPT, Invideo AI and others. The works of all these systems amount to connecting the dots in the ocean of existing knowledge, ingenuous as that may be. Often, it is impossible for human beings to connect the same dots.
If the answer to a query is not to be found in the existing knowledge base of humanity, however, AI will not be able to find it. AI is a Type I discovery!
It is possible to test the present capacity of AI.
Humans who have transcended reason possess a very high level of consciousness and emotional excellence and the capacity to discern truth from falsehood (perfect intuition). Test whether your AI products have these attributes and if they are making Type II discoveries. If yes, then, it is time to bow to them in reverence.
Pradeep B. Deshpande is professor emeritus and former Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Louisville.
Sanjeev S. Tambe is a former chief scientist and head of Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division at the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)
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