A Theoretical Computer Science Approach to Consciousness and AGI

Explore a theoretical computer science approach to consciousness and artificial general intelligence (AGI) in this 53-minute conference talk by Lenore Blum at the Models of Consciousness Conference. Delve into the concept of the Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), a simple yet powerful model designed to investigate consciousness from a Theoretical Computer Science (TCS) perspective. Discover how the CTM, while not a direct model of the brain, incorporates insights from cognitive neuroscience, particularly the global neuronal workspace theory. Learn about the CTM's architecture, featuring numerous specialized and unspecialized processors, and understand how this design offers a novel approach to creating AGI. Examine the CTM's ability to efficiently utilize its processors for problem-solving, even without conscious awareness of which processors are being used. Gain insights into how this theoretical framework could potentially bridge the gap between understanding consciousness and developing advanced artificial intelligence systems.