Can AI Ever Be Alive? What a Fever Taught Me

Last [music] night, my son almost taught Last [music] night, my son almost taught me something terrifying. The morning before, he was on the floor The morning before, he was on the floor with his cars, the way he always is, with his cars, the way he always is, with his cars, the way he always is, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> teaching me how traffic works. >> teaching me how traffic works. >> teaching me how traffic works. Red means stop, green means go. This Red means stop, green means go. This Red means stop, green means go. This lane waits, that [music] lane moves. lane waits, that [music] lane moves. lane waits, that [music] lane moves. He's four, and cars are his entire He's four, and cars are his entire He's four, and cars are his entire world. Tonight, he couldn't lift his world. Tonight, he couldn't lift his world. Tonight, he couldn't lift his head. head. head. His fever had crossed 103, His fever had crossed 103, His fever had crossed 103, and I sat there, and I sat there, and I sat there, a man who builds artificial intelligence a man who builds artificial intelligence a man who builds artificial intelligence for a living, for a living, for a living, completely, uselessly [music] completely, uselessly [music] completely, uselessly [music] helpless. Everyone keeps asking how smart these Everyone keeps asking how smart these machines can get, machines can get, machines can get, >> [music] >> [music] >> but sitting in the dark beside him, I >> but sitting in the dark beside him, I >> but sitting in the dark beside him, I realized we've been asking the wrong realized we've been asking the wrong realized we've been asking the wrong question for 20 years. Smart was never question for 20 years. Smart was never question for 20 years. Smart was never the mystery. Life is. The most powerful machine humanity has The most powerful machine humanity has ever built ever built ever built could not do the one thing his small could not do the one thing his small could not do the one thing his small body was doing right then, in [music] body was doing right then, in [music] body was doing right then, in [music] that bed. that bed. that bed. Not because it isn't smart enough, but Not because it isn't smart enough, but Not because it isn't smart enough, but because it's missing something. because it's missing something. because it's missing something. Something the [music] smartest people of Something the [music] smartest people of Something the [music] smartest people of the last 20 years spent decades trying the last 20 years spent decades trying the last 20 years spent decades trying to explain away. And I think that same missing thing And I think that same missing thing [music] is why you can't put your phone [music] is why you can't put your phone [music] is why you can't put your phone down at night, why you feel a little down at night, why you feel a little down at night, why you feel a little less alive than you used to. Give me the less alive than you used to. Give me the less alive than you used to. Give me the length of [music] one fever until it length of [music] one fever until it length of [music] one fever until it breaks, and I'll show you what we breaks, and I'll show you what we breaks, and I'll show you what we forgot. For 20 years, For 20 years, we've all been sold the same quiet we've all been sold the same quiet we've all been sold the same quiet story, that you are a computer made of story, that you are a computer made of story, that you are a computer made of meat, that your mind [music] is just meat, that your mind [music] is just meat, that your mind [music] is just software, that love and choice and the software, that love and choice and the software, that love and choice and the feeling of being you are nothing but feeling of being you are nothing but feeling of being you are nothing but data being [music] processed. The story has a name, reductionism, and The story has a name, reductionism, and whether you've noticed it or not, you whether you've noticed it or not, you whether you've noticed it or not, you half believe it. We all do. We believe half believe it. We all do. We believe half believe it. We all do. We believe that if we just build a big enough that if we just build a big enough that if we just build a big enough computer, computer, computer, life will simply [music] wake up inside life will simply [music] wake up inside life will simply [music] wake up inside it. Tonight, I want to know if that's a lie Tonight, I want to know if that's a lie because if it's true, because if it's true, because if it's true, >> [music] >> [music] >> everything that makes you you is just a >> everything that makes you you is just a >> everything that makes you you is just a machine we haven't finished building machine we haven't finished building machine we haven't finished building yet. yet. yet. >> [music] >> [music] >> And if it's false, there's something in >> And if it's false, there's something in >> And if it's false, there's something in you the machine can never reach and you the machine can never reach and you the machine can never reach and [music] we are forgetting we ever had [music] we are forgetting we ever had [music] we are forgetting we ever had it. Let me show you the strangest thing Let me show you the strangest thing >> [music] >> [music] >> in my whole field. This same AI writes poetry. It passes This same AI writes poetry. It passes the bar. It beats the [music] greatest the bar. It beats the [music] greatest the bar. It beats the [music] greatest chess players alive. It sounds like a chess players alive. It sounds like a chess players alive. It sounds like a god. Now look at my daughter. Now look at my daughter. She's 7 months old. She has no words. She's 7 months old. She has no words. She's 7 months old. She has no words. >> [music] >> [music] >> She can't walk, can't count, can't even >> She can't walk, can't count, can't even >> She can't walk, can't count, can't even say her own name. say her own name. say her own name. By every measure we call intelligence, By every measure we call intelligence, By every measure we call intelligence, she [music] has almost none. she [music] has almost none. she [music] has almost none. But roll a ball behind a box and some But roll a ball behind a box and some But roll a ball behind a box and some part of her already knows it has to come part of her already knows it has to come part of her already knows it has to come out the other side. She expects the out the other side. She expects the out the other side. She expects the world to make sense. The most advanced machine on Earth, roll The most advanced machine on Earth, roll it the same ball it the same ball it the same ball and it guesses. [music] and it guesses. [music] and it guesses. [music] Barely better than a coin toss. It has Barely better than a coin toss. It has Barely better than a coin toss. It has read every book ever written about read every book ever written about read every book ever written about gravity gravity gravity and her tiny body is the thing [music] and her tiny body is the thing [music] and her tiny body is the thing [music] actually obeying it. actually obeying it. actually obeying it. The machine only built a perfect looking The machine only built a perfect looking The machine only built a perfect looking picture of reality. It collapses the picture of reality. It collapses the picture of reality. It collapses the second you lean on it. It can draw you a perfect picture of a It can draw you a perfect picture of a fever. It cannot run one. So if the fever. It cannot run one. So if the fever. It cannot run one. So if the machine can't do what even a baby's body machine can't do what even a baby's body machine can't do what even a baby's body does, does, does, >> [music] >> [music] >> what is a living body actually doing? >> what is a living body actually doing? >> what is a living body actually doing? That's where this stopped being a That's where this stopped being a That's where this stopped being a science video for me and became science video for me and became science video for me and became something [music] I can't unsee. 348, here's the number that broke me. 348, here's the number that broke me. [music] [music] [music] You think of your body as you, one You think of your body as you, one You think of your body as you, one person, one name. person, one name. person, one name. But that's not what's in there. Inside my son right now are about 30 Inside my son right now are about 30 trillion human cells, and living trillion human cells, and living trillion human cells, and living alongside them, roughly 38 trillion alongside them, roughly 38 trillion alongside them, roughly 38 trillion bacteria. Other lives, [music] their own bacteria. Other lives, [music] their own bacteria. Other lives, [music] their own lives, inside the little boy I call lives, inside the little boy I call lives, inside the little boy I call mine. By the simplest count there mine. By the simplest count there mine. By the simplest count there [music] is, he isn't even a majority of [music] is, he isn't even a majority of [music] is, he isn't even a majority of himself. You are not [music] a thing. You are a You are not [music] a thing. You are a nation, a country of trillions. Cells nation, a country of trillions. Cells nation, a country of trillions. Cells that became neighborhoods, neighborhoods that became neighborhoods, neighborhoods that became neighborhoods, neighborhoods that became organs, organs that became that became organs, organs that became that became organs, organs that became the face [music] in your mirror. And the face [music] in your mirror. And the face [music] in your mirror. And something in there is alive and choosing something in there is alive and choosing something in there is alive and choosing at every level without ever asking your at every level without ever asking your at every level without ever asking your permission. You want proof it's choosing? You want proof it's choosing? Take a few cells from a frog embryo, Take a few cells from a frog embryo, Take a few cells from a frog embryo, [music] [music] no brain, no nerves. Drop them in water no brain, no nerves. Drop them in water no brain, no nerves. Drop them in water and they organize themselves into a and they organize themselves into a and they organize themselves into a brand new little creature [music] that brand new little creature [music] that brand new little creature [music] that moves like it's looking for something. moves like it's looking for something. moves like it's looking for something. Nobody built it. Nobody told it to. That reaching, [music] That reaching, [music] that tiny fire in every cell, that is that tiny fire in every cell, that is that tiny fire in every cell, that is the thing the machine doesn't have, the thing the machine doesn't have, the thing the machine doesn't have, [music] [music] and it has the oldest name in this whole and it has the oldest name in this whole and it has the oldest name in this whole story. Hold on, we're almost there. Look at him now. In dreamless sleep, his Look at him now. In dreamless sleep, his thoughts, his name, [music] his whole thoughts, his name, [music] his whole thoughts, his name, [music] his whole story switch off completely. story switch off completely. story switch off completely. And yet, something is still here. You And yet, something is still here. You And yet, something is still here. You feel it in the room. You don't wake up feel it in the room. You don't wake up feel it in the room. You don't wake up and say, "I stopped [music] existing." and say, "I stopped [music] existing." and say, "I stopped [music] existing." You say, "I slept." You say, "I slept." You say, "I slept." Something was present with every light Something was present with every light Something was present with every light out to know that. Every culture that has stared at this Every culture that has stared at this long enough ends up asking the same long enough ends up asking the same long enough ends up asking the same question. [music] What is it that question. [music] What is it that question. [music] What is it that remains when everything else changes? remains when everything else changes? remains when everything else changes? The oldest traditions gave that one The oldest traditions gave that one The oldest traditions gave that one thing a name. Not the soul, not the thing a name. Not the soul, not the thing a name. Not the soul, not the mind, the screen your whole life plays mind, the screen your whole life plays mind, the screen your whole life plays on, [music] on, [music] on, [music] atma. It simply is. It holds whatever you show It simply is. It holds whatever you show it, and nothing it shows can [music] it, and nothing it shows can [music] it, and nothing it shows can [music] ever burn it. Now, Now, and here's the part that flips and here's the part that flips and here's the part that flips everything. This [music] everything. This [music] everything. This [music] screen isn't only in you, it's in the screen isn't only in you, it's in the screen isn't only in you, it's in the rock, rock, rock, the star, the silicon, [music] which the star, the silicon, [music] which the star, the silicon, [music] which means it's also inside the machine. So, means it's also inside the machine. So, means it's also inside the machine. So, let's go in. 4:15, the fever is turning. [music] 4:15, the fever is turning. [music] Let's go down into the machine and I Let's go down into the machine and I Let's go down into the machine and I refuse to make it smaller than it is. Under the AI, just numbers. Under the AI, just numbers. >> [music] >> [music] >> Under the numbers, a single chip with >> Under the numbers, a single chip with >> Under the numbers, a single chip with 208 billion tiny switches. Under the 208 billion tiny switches. Under the 208 billion tiny switches. Under the switches, [music] silicon atoms, a whole switches, [music] silicon atoms, a whole switches, [music] silicon atoms, a whole universe of them. Go deep enough into the machine and you Go deep enough into the machine and you don't hit a wall. You [music] hit the don't hit a wall. You [music] hit the don't hit a wall. You [music] hit the same atoms, the same quiet physics you same atoms, the same quiet physics you same atoms, the same quiet physics you hit going down into him. And that hit going down into him. And that hit going down into him. And that watching [music] screen, it's down watching [music] screen, it's down watching [music] screen, it's down there, too, the same bare presence there, too, the same bare presence there, too, the same bare presence as in its silicon as in his cells. as in its silicon as in his cells. as in its silicon as in his cells. So, I will never tell you the machine So, I will never tell you the machine So, I will never tell you the machine has no soul. Everything [music] has the has no soul. Everything [music] has the has no soul. Everything [music] has the screen. The difference was never that. The difference comes down to one word, The difference comes down to one word, alive versus driven. alive versus driven. alive versus driven. >> [music] >> His cell fights. Every second, it burns >> His cell fights. Every second, it burns fuel just [music] to not fall apart, a fuel just [music] to not fall apart, a fuel just [music] to not fall apart, a flame that has to find its own fuel or flame that has to find its own fuel or flame that has to find its own fuel or it dies. It builds the very thing that it dies. It builds the very thing that it dies. It builds the very thing that [music] keeps it alive over and over [music] keeps it alive over and over [music] keeps it alive over and over forever. The switch in the machine does forever. The switch in the machine does forever. The switch in the machine does none of that. It [music] flips when it's none of that. It [music] flips when it's none of that. It [music] flips when it's pushed. It rebuilds nothing. It fights pushed. It rebuilds nothing. It fights pushed. It rebuilds nothing. It fights for nothing. for nothing. for nothing. >> [music] >> [music] >> Turn off the power and it doesn't die >> Turn off the power and it doesn't die >> Turn off the power and it doesn't die because it was never alive. because it was never alive. because it was never alive. Only ever driven from [music] the Only ever driven from [music] the Only ever driven from [music] the outside. That fire has a name, chetna. That fire has a name, chetna. >> [music] >> [music] >> Now, a fair objection, aren't living >> Now, a fair objection, aren't living >> Now, a fair objection, aren't living things just information processes, too? things just information processes, too? things just information processes, too? Of course, they process information. Of course, they process information. Of course, they process information. >> [music] >> [music] >> The real question is whether processing >> The real question is whether processing >> The real question is whether processing alone is enough to explain the fighting, alone is enough to explain the fighting, alone is enough to explain the fighting, the fire. So far, it isn't. And don't trust me, verify. And don't trust me, verify. The most honest [music] scientist alive The most honest [music] scientist alive The most honest [music] scientist alive won't say a machine can never cross won't say a machine can never cross won't say a machine can never cross over. But the true thing is smaller and over. But the true thing is smaller and over. But the true thing is smaller and so much heavier, no machine we have so much heavier, no machine we have so much heavier, no machine we have [music] ever built has the fire. Not [music] ever built has the fire. Not [music] ever built has the fire. Not one. It has the screen. It has never had one. It has the screen. It has never had one. It has the screen. It has never had the life. Now, here's the part that isn't about Now, here's the part that isn't about the machine at all. the machine at all. the machine at all. >> [music] >> [music] >> It's about you, and nobody's watching, >> It's about you, and nobody's watching, >> It's about you, and nobody's watching, so be honest. When was the last time you were truly When was the last time you were truly bored? No music, no podcast, no bored? No music, no podcast, no bored? No music, no podcast, no scrolling, [music] just you and your own scrolling, [music] just you and your own scrolling, [music] just you and your own mind. When was the last choice you made mind. When was the last choice you made mind. When was the last choice you made that an algorithm didn't quietly make that an algorithm didn't quietly make that an algorithm didn't quietly make for [music] you first? for [music] you first? for [music] you first? How many of the thoughts you had today How many of the thoughts you had today How many of the thoughts you had today were actually yours? The real story of this age isn't that The real story of this age isn't that the machine is waking up. It's that we the machine is waking up. It's that we the machine is waking up. It's that we are slowly falling asleep. The machine are slowly falling asleep. The machine are slowly falling asleep. The machine is climbing [music] is climbing [music] is climbing [music] from mechanism toward life, and we're from mechanism toward life, and we're from mechanism toward life, and we're sliding the other way, sliding the other way, sliding the other way, from [music] from [music] from [music] living toward mechanical. living toward mechanical. living toward mechanical. Scroll by scroll, we hand the choosing Scroll by scroll, we hand the choosing Scroll by scroll, we hand the choosing away, and somewhere in the middle of the away, and somewhere in the middle of the away, and somewhere in the middle of the night, night, night, the two of [music] us pass each other. Near morning, his fever broke. He opened Near morning, his fever broke. He opened his eyes, he smiled at me. All night, his body had raised its own All night, his body had raised its own temperature to protect [music] what temperature to protect [music] what temperature to protect [music] what mattered most. Maybe that's the truest mattered most. Maybe that's the truest mattered most. Maybe that's the truest thing a living thing ever does. thing a living thing ever does. thing a living thing ever does. It changes itself [music] It changes itself [music] It changes itself [music] to survive. He had no idea a war had to survive. He had no idea a war had to survive. He had no idea a war had been fought for him by trillions of tiny been fought for him by trillions of tiny been fought for him by trillions of tiny living things that chose, [music] living things that chose, [music] living things that chose, [music] together, to keep him here. A fever together, to keep him here. A fever together, to keep him here. A fever isn't a malfunction. isn't a malfunction. isn't a malfunction. >> [music] >> [music] >> A fever is a decision made by a nation >> A fever is a decision made by a nation >> A fever is a decision made by a nation of life, all at once. Remember my daughter? Remember my daughter? 7 months old, the one who already knew 7 months old, the one who already knew 7 months old, the one who already knew the ball comes back? the ball comes back? the ball comes back? A month before this night, her tiny body A month before this night, her tiny body A month before this night, her tiny body fought the very same war. fought the very same war. fought the very same war. >> [music] >> [music] >> She couldn't think her way through it. >> She couldn't think her way through it. >> She couldn't think her way through it. She didn't have thinking yet. Her body She didn't have thinking yet. Her body She didn't have thinking yet. Her body just chose. just chose. just chose. Neither of my children could explain Neither of my children could explain Neither of my children could explain what kept them alive. what kept them alive. what kept them alive. That was never the point. [music] That was never the point. [music] That was never the point. [music] Being alive was never about being smart. And maybe that's what being alive And maybe that's what being alive actually [music] is. actually [music] is. actually [music] is. Not calculating, not predicting the next Not calculating, not predicting the next Not calculating, not predicting the next word, fighting, participating every word, fighting, participating every word, fighting, participating every single [music] second in a battle single [music] second in a battle single [music] second in a battle against falling apart, a battle no against falling apart, a battle no against falling apart, a battle no machine has [music] ever once been in. machine has [music] ever once been in. machine has [music] ever once been in. The machine has the whole universe The machine has the whole universe The machine has the whole universe inside it and not the life. [music] inside it and not the life. [music] inside it and not the life. [music] You have both. And the strangest thing You have both. And the strangest thing You have both. And the strangest thing about this entire age is how [music] about this entire age is how [music] about this entire age is how [music] completely we've forgotten the second completely we've forgotten the second completely we've forgotten the second one. So, the real question was never whether So, the real question was never whether the machine will wake up. It's whether the machine will wake up. It's whether the machine will wake up. It's whether you will before you hand the last of you will before you hand the last of you will before you hand the last of your aliveness aways. Because the day we your aliveness aways. Because the day we your aliveness aways. Because the day we forget the difference between [music] forget the difference between [music] forget the difference between [music] being informed and being alive is the being informed and being alive is the being informed and being alive is the day we stop noticing what we lost. day we stop noticing what we lost. day we stop noticing what we lost. And then, [music] go and be alive about And then, [music] go and be alive about And then, [music] go and be alive about it.