I asked for a picture along these lines: This is one of four responses, which are themselves a series of "tweaks" to what I want the picture to show. This is amazing but rather routine for 2024. What Microsoft does takes it a step further. The Bing tools give you references and related links pictorial links. In this case ... This encourages you to follow the thought behind the picture to discover ideas that would not have otherwise occurred to you. In this case,  many ideas about "Robot helpers". For example, USING THE PICTURE, we are led to this article about the "teeming throng" of robot helpers and Amazon's attempt to compete in a crowded field. Note that "Robot helpers" is the theme of the original picture, but unstated . Wanting a picture to illustrate the Hindu idea that the world is a dream of Brahma, I got this: Which led me to dozens of related ideas, including one with related images for sale . Check it out. This gives us insig...

  (describe spirit system) (Wikipedia) (basic AI - Grammarly) (Mind maps - Corkulous) (CHAT-GPT - Microsoft version, others) (Generative AI, Dall-E, Microsoft version, others) Style notes: Generative AI used to create graphics - mainly Microsoft Quotes from CHAT-GPT different interfaces, MS preferred

  In Hinduism, the concept that the world is a dream is closely tied to the belief in Maya, which refers to the illusory nature of the material world. According to Hindu philosophy, Maya is the cosmic illusion that makes the physical world seem real and tangible, while actually being transient and unreal. The idea that the world is a dream can be understood in several ways within Hinduism: 1. Illusion of Reality: Hinduism views the material world as an illusionary realm that deceives individuals into perceiving it as permanent and separate from the divine. Just as in a dream, things appear real and solid, but they are ultimately unreal and temporary. This illusionary nature of the world is believed to prevent individuals from realizing their true nature and the ultimate reality. 2. Transitory Nature: Hinduism teaches that everything in the physical world, including our bodies, thoughts, and emotions, are constantly changing and impermanent. Similar to a dream that fades away upon w...

  A Reality Distortion Field" (RDF)  is a term coined by Andy Hertzfeld, a member of the original Macintosh development team at Apple, to describe the persuasive and charismatic effect Steve Jobs had on others. It refers to Jobs' ability to convince and manipulate people into believing in his vision and ideas, often distorting the perception of reality to align with his goals The term suggests that Jobs had the power to bend and mould reality according to his desires, making others see things the way he wanted them to be seen. This skill enabled him to inspire and motivate his team to achieve seemingly impossible tasks or standards. It was believed that his charisma, confidence, and persuasive communication style created a "field" around him that influenced others into accepting his versions of reality. In a broader context, the term "reality distortion field" is sometimes used to describe the phenomenon when someone has an influential, persuasive effect on...

 SUBSTACK Substack is a platform that allows writers and journalists to easily publish and distribute their work through email newsletters. It provides tools for writing, editing, and designing newsletters, as well as managing subscriptions and sending out email updates to subscribers. Substack also offers tools for monetization, allowing writers to charge for subscriptions and earn revenue from their work. It has grown popular in recent years as a platform for independent journalists and writers to reach an audience and generate income directly, bypassing traditional media outlets. The question is, am I ready for SUBSTACK? In theory, this would bring my work to a larger (larger than zero) audience, provide a way to communicate with subscribers and even "monetize" my efforts in the long run. It would also enforce some discipline that is lacking in the current blog.  Raising the curtain on a SUBSTACK presence may encourage me to work systematically to make regular posts around...

  This is a great summary of Penrose's ideas. He sees 3 different "worlds" or domains: Math, Physics and Mind. The Math "world" has a kind of "Platonic" existence. "The Emperor's New Mind" is a book written by physicist and mathematician Roger Penrose, in which he explores the relationship between human consciousness and the concept of artificial intelligence. Penrose argues that human consciousness cannot be replicated through computational algorithms alone, and proposes that a missing ingredient, currently unknown to science, is required for true artificial intelligence to exist. He delves into topics such as quantum mechanics, Gödel's incompleteness theorem, and the nature of consciousness itself, challenging the prevailing belief that the human mind can be reduced to a mere computer program. Ultimately, Penrose advocates for a new understanding of physics that incorporates consciousness as a fundamental principle. Mathematics has...

This video got me thinking about Schopenhauer. The video also mentions Kant's view that the world "as such" only exists in the human mind. "The 'real' world is fundamentally inaccessible to us" "Time and space have their ultimate reality in the mind, not the 'world'" - para Kant. "The World as Representation" - Schopenhauer. "The World as Representation" is a philosophical concept developed by Arthur Schopenhauer. According to Schopenhauer, the world that we perceive is not the actual reality, but a representation constructed by our own minds. He argues that our perception of the world is limited by our senses and the way our minds interpret the information they receive. These representations are subjective and can differ from person to person. Schopenhauer suggests that we can only truly understand the world by going beyond these representations through self-awareness and introspection. Limitations of language, whi...

Image courtesy of BING AI AI Provides a helpful summary of its own summaries: The book "Surface and Essences" by Douglas Hofstadter and Emmanuel Sander explores key concepts related to human thought and language. It emphasizes the importance of analogy, category, essence, metaphor, blending, pattern recognition, and recursive thinking in shaping our understanding and creative thinking. The book challenges conventional wisdom and offers insights into perceiving, understanding, and creating meaning. (I) value the book for its insights into systematic thought and the limitations of language.   (I) also mention Antonio Damasio's book "Feeling and Knowing: Making Minds," which explores the relationship between emotions and cognition. Damasio argues that emotions play a crucial role in guiding our thoughts and actions and that our sense of self is shaped by emotional experiences. Overall, both books offer comprehensive perspectives on human cognition and consciousness...

Sometimes, it can help to boil a "problem" down to the simplest case. Suppose we want to measure the spin of an electron, or even suppose that we will have a device that will beep if it's "spin up" or "spin down" (minds are not part of the mystery): AI*:The " collapse of the wave function " is a concept in quantum mechanics that refers to an abrupt change in the state of a quantum system when it is measured or observed. According to the Schrödinger equation, which describes the wave-like behaviour of quantum particles, a particle can exist simultaneously in a superposition of multiple states until it is observed or measured. However, upon observation , the wave function describing the particle's state collapses into a single definite state. This collapse is often described as the moment when the particle's properties become well-defined, such as its position or momentum. The exact mechanism or interpretation of wave function collapse ...

There is a great video on the subject here . It's illustrative of the "rabbit hole" we go down when trying to "explain" something. Ultimately, this is the same rabbit hole we go down when we try to "explain" anything. "What is consciousness'' has the same problems as "What is gravity?". Any "explanation" would be another description, requiring a certain amount of hand waving to count as pulling the curtain back. Toward the end, there is a discussion of the difference between "thoughts" and "reality." The problem is framing the issue as a "problem" to be solved. The "problem" can be reduced to the collapse of the wave function (see below). This is not to say we are not left with a mystery. It's just that it has nothing to do with "consciousness". For me, conscousness is a side issue. Certainly, consciousness is a vast mystery - perhaps THE mystery. But we don't ne...

CHATBOT In the following, AI is a GPT-4-based chatbot. I use the chatbot to summarize the current state of knowledge and save myself from re-hashing established ideas. The point of the following is that it's all in your head. There is a fundamental difference between what we know and experience of the world and what is "really" happening in the world. The Tao that can be spoken is not the real Tao. NOW AI: The brain produces the illusion of "now" through a complex interaction of various brain regions and neural processes.  One prominent theory is that the brain constructs the perception of "now" by integrating information from different sensory modalities. The brain receives sensory inputs from various sources, such as vision, hearing, touch, and more. These inputs are transmitted to different brain areas responsible for processing each specific modality. Simultaneously, the brain engages in a process called "temporal binding" or "sensor...

*Note - I need a different word for what I call "paranoia". I'm referring to my own state of mind during the manic phase of bipolar illness, which is a psychosis accompanied by "paranoia". In this case, "paranoia" refers to the conviction that I am at the centre of the Universe - of cosmic importance.  Of course, a healthy brain creates the illusion that there is a "self" at the centre of the universe -- a "mind." But in a normal mind, this is more or less "zero" in a coordinate system THE FOLLOWING IS ABOUT TRUMP AND MUSK -CONVERSATION WITH AN AI CHATBOT. what is the name for a condition where I see myself as the most   important person in the universe? AI: The condition you are describing is known as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). It is characterized by an extreme sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, a lack of empathy towards others, and a constant need for attention and validation. Peopl...