Originally aired on October 24, 2023

In this episode of Edge of AI, host Ron Levy interviews Dr. Memo Akten, an artist and researcher specializing in generative AI. Dr. Akten discusses his background in AI and art, as well as his fascination with intelligence in nature and machines. He explains the concept of distributed consciousness and its link to biology, computation, and cognition. Dr. Akten also discusses the potential impact of AI on creative processes, ownership, and the future of art, culture, and society. The conversation touches on the concept of human exceptionalism and the decentering of human intelligence in the face of advancing AI technology. The episode also explores the use of AI in code completion and how it is changing the landscape of programming. Finally, Dr. Akten shares his thoughts on the future of AI in the creative sectors and the importance of responsible implementation.

The Concept of Distributed Consciousness

• Examining the link between biology, computation, and cognition
• Exploring the impact of AI on distributed consciousness
• Highlighting the potential implications for art, culture, and society

The Future of Creativity and AI

• Discussing the role of AI in creative processes and artistic expression
• Exploring the impact of AI on ownership, IP, and artistic authorship
• Speculating on the future of creative sectors and the need for responsible implementation

The Use of AI in Code Completion

• Utilizing AI-powered code completion tools for more efficient programming
• Exploring the potential impact of AI on programming workflows
• Recognizing the importance of human verification in AI-generated code

The Decentering of Human Intelligence

• Questioning the notion of human exceptionalism in light of advancing AI technology
• Discussing the challenges and possibilities of AI-generated creativity
• Highlighting the need to understand the nature of nature and AI’s role in shaping it

Influential Researchers and Organizations in AI

• Mentioning the work of researchers such as Jeff Hawkins and Judea Pearl
• Discussing the contributions of organizations like OpenAI and DeepMind
• Exploring the impact of AI research on various fields, including neuroscience and physics

The Role of AI in Society and Culture

• Examining the potential ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI technology
• Discussing the need for responsible AI development and implementation
• Highlighting the importance of considering the long-term effects of AI on society and culture

Chapters:

0:00:00 – Introduction: Who is Memo Akten and the Human Condition?

0:08:13 – Into the Mind of Memo Akten: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition for Interactive Art

0:27:48 – AI VS the Hollywood Writer & Actor’s Strike: We Need Democratizing AI Tools More Than Ever!

0:58:44 – AI Wants to Know Memo Akten: Building at an Early Age with Legos!

1:03:31 – Memo’s AI Leaders & Influencers: Jeff Hawkins, Lauren McCarthy, Jurgen Schmidhuber, Lisa Feldman Barrett (And who should we have next?)

1:07:20 – Memo’s AI Resource List: You’ll be surprised what you can learn on Twitter, YouTube and Reddit! (Plus Lex Friedman Podcast!)

1:10:11 – Memo’s AI Tips: ChatGPT as a Search Engine?! (And Rubber Ducking!)

Visit Memo here:

◆ https://twitter.com/memotv

◆ https://www.memo.tv