Finite State Machines with Feedback: An Architecture Supporting Minimal Machine Consciousness

0511457 - ÚI 2020 RIV CH eng C - Conference Paper (international conference)
Wiedermann, Jiří - van Leeuwen, J.
Finite State Machines with Feedback: An Architecture Supporting Minimal Machine Consciousness.
Computing with Foresight and Industry. Cham: Springer, 2019 - (Manea, F.; Martin, B.; Paulusma, D.; Primiero, G.), s. 286-297. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 11558. ISBN 978-3-030-22995-5. ISSN 0302-9743.
[CiE 2019: Conference on Computability in Europe /19./. Durham (GB), 15.07.2019-19.07.2019]
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) StrategieAV21/1
Program: StrategieAV
Institutional support: RVO:67985807
Keywords : finite state machines * machine consciousness * self-knowledge * self-monitoring * self-awareness * qualia
OECD category: Computer sciences, information science, bioinformathics (hardware development to be 2.2, social aspect to be 5.8)

Finite state machines with feedback present a novel machine model when considered under the scenario of cognitive computations. The model is designed in the spirit of automata theory and presents a mix of Alan Turing’s finite state machines and Norbert Wiener’s machines with feedback. For the model we define, what we call, minimal machine consciousness and machine qualia. The design of our model is lead by natural engineering requirements. Its properties are justified by the latest findings in neuroscience and by ideas from the classical literature of the philosophy of mind. For the model a test distinguishing minimally conscious machines from unconscious ones (“zombies”) on a given cognitive task is proposed. Our modeling supports the claim that consciousness is a computational phenomenon that is not just a matter of suitable software but also requires a dedicated architecture.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0301728