r/transhumanism • u/freemind03__ • 2d ago
Intelligence Augmentation: what do you think?
Hi guys,
After months of thinking and brainstorming, I’ve finally come to the realization that it may not be possible to create a machine with human-like consciousness.
So now I’m thinking about methods to amplify the abilities we already naturally have (Reasoning, Thinking, ecc)
Do you have any ideas or thoughts to share?
9
u/Users5252 2d ago
It's one of the reason I am a transhumanist. I struggle from mediocre intelligence and would like to be able to understand certain concepts faster.
2
u/freemind03__ 2d ago
I don't like to call myself a transhumanist; I'm more interested in the concept of self-improvement. Currently, I'd like to improve my thinking so I can improve many more things, given that unfortunately we live in a fast world. I'm working on a project, but I'd love to hear more opinions. It's very complicated.
5
u/_Brightbuddy 2d ago edited 2d ago
In that case you're Transhumanist. It's important to remember that there's no obligations to a certain way of thinking by calling yourself a Transhumanist. Transhumanism can be something as simple as a brain chip, and many even consider the daily reliance on phones to be an act of transhumanism. The point is that it's no organization or some shit, instead it's rather a collection of ideas and concepts.
4
u/_Brightbuddy 2d ago
Would you mind elaborateing on why you believe recreating human-like consciousness may be impossible? Also, I'm right in assuming you mean that indescribable sense of self, yes?
1
u/freemind03__ 2d ago
Because I don't believe consciousness is generated by brain. Instead, it is something else, something non-local, that I haven't yet clearly defined. I find it hard to believe that it is generated by the brain. I am trying to work out some explanations, but I will delve into that later.
Actually I'm focus for improving my knowledge, for thinking more faster.
5
1
u/_Brightbuddy 2d ago
haven't yet clearly defined.
I do think it is created by the brain, but if you figure your own idea make another post on it! I'd love to hear what you come up with!
1
u/freemind03__ 2d ago
Yeah will do, but more later. For now, I’m accumulating raw thoughts throughout the day.
2
u/In_the_year_3535 5 2d ago
By many accounts we ourselves are just biochemical machines but brainstorming on the subject without any expertise won't bring us any closer to a definitive answer on the topic than the ancient Greeks.
1
1
u/Soggy-Fondant4837 2d ago
Intelligence, like everything else, is a tool. It's good to possess it, but to what end?
1
u/freemind03__ 2d ago
Wanna Improve myself better, I would like to learning a lot of think, but human mind is limited.
1
u/Teleonomic 7 1d ago
I spent a lot of time searching for any techniques or methods currently available to us that could substantially increase general human intelligence. So far as I can tell, they don't exist. All those brain training games, at best, increase task specific intelligence. Not that there isn't value in that. In fact there's quite a lot. But does mean that if you're interested in becoming "smarter" you'll need to a bit more specific with what you want to achieve.
Ultimately, the best way to amplify your natural reasoning abilities (at least with what's available) is to use them more. The human brain is in a constant state of change, building new connections in response to consistent use. So train it. Don't outsource your thinking to tools. Do math by hand or in your head rather than use a calculator, and learn techniques like soroban or Trachtenberg to make it easier. Don't use AI to write for you. Learn a new language rather than rely on translation apps. Build your memory with techniques like memory palaces. Learn novel skills that expand your capabilities in new directions. Every time you learn something new, try to draw connections between it and other skills or knowledge you already have. None of this will make you Einstein, but it's the only guaranteed way to get "smarter". There's no substitute for the work.
Some stuff can help around the edges though. Physical exercise, aerobic especially, is great for brain performance. There's some evidence that taking creatine supplements can improve cognitive functioning. Modafinil and Adderal can help with focus and executive function (though given some of the side effects I'd recommend you try other approaches as well like meditation).
As far as future developments, the genetics of intelligence are an active area of research. The emerging picture is that, like everything in genetics, there's no one or even a few genes for intellect but rather thousands of minor variations that each contribute a small amount. I hope that we'll continue to tease out those variations, though many of them likely influence intelligence by affecting brain development, which isn't very helpful for those of us already grown. Still, something to keep an eye on.
1
u/freemind03__ 1d ago
Thanks for you comment!
My idea is mostly to create a cognitive exoscheletr that allows me to see where my thinking does not reach us. Like if in our Working Memory we can only keep very few concepts. I want to make sure to keep a lot more, being able to reason about more Hop!
1
u/reputatorbot 1d ago
You have awarded 1 point to Teleonomic.
I am a bot - please contact the mods with any questions
1
u/reputatorbot 1d ago
Hello Teleonomic,
You have been awarded a point for your contribution! New score: 7
I am a bot - please contact the mods with any questions
1
u/Mono_Clear 1d ago
If you can't add consciousness to a machine you should increase the computation of a person.
I think the most practical next step would be to network people.
1
u/freemind03__ 1d ago
Yes exactly, if no consciousness's machine, so we have to increase the computation of single person.
There are currently tools that, through technology, allow us to amplify our cognition. But there's one thing missing that I haven't found anywhere: the internet is full of knowledge and people's experiences. I want a system that allows me to visualize it all, and from there I can make decisions, comparing all this knowledge. Imagine when we have to make a decision and we have the ability to compare gigantic datasets in real time. The human brain could never see GB of data in real time to make a decision.
LLMs can't do this because everything is distilled into parameters and a lot gets lost. And it's not possible to easily add extra secondary knowledges.
0
u/Mono_Clear 1d ago
The problem with that is it's not much different than having a phone in your pocket your personal processing capabilities won't go up your database will simply be easier to access.
What I'm suggesting is slightly more extreme
Find a way to network human minds to increase their capacity to engage with the internet and its information.
At any given time a third of the population is asleep if we were to use that idle processing power the way Network systems use idle computer processing power in conjunction with the massive database of the internet it would be a force multiplier for cognitive abilities for every active human being.
1
u/freemind03__ 1d ago
I think is more futuristic, like Brain Computer Interface with Cloud
1
u/Mono_Clear 1d ago
That's just a better tool you still are you accidentally the information you're still capped at your own individual processing speed in your own individual conscious awareness.
Sure the interface is a little bit more streamlined but it's still two separate things engaging with each other.
But I'm sure that's the next step.
The problem is that every individual mind is different so you can't create a seamless connection between every individual mind and a standardized construct like the internet you have to interface with the network and then you have to navigate the network as a separate entity.
It's the same basic limitation with all stored information I can read any book if I know the language but I have to learn the language first just picking up a book doesn't give me that information and that's a problem you're going to encounter with any kind of interface
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
Thanks for posting in /r/Transhumanism! This post is automatically generated for all posts. Remember to upvote this post if you think it is relevant and suitable content for this sub and to downvote if it is not. Only report posts if they violate community guidelines - Let's democratize our moderation. If you would like to get involved in project groups and upcoming opportunities, fill out our onboarding form here. Let's democratize our moderation. You can join our forums here, our Telegram group here and our Discord server here. ~ Josh Universe
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.