Can a Thermostat Be Conscious? Philosopher Challenges the Nature of Awareness

Philosopher David Chalmers proposes that a simple thermostat might possess consciousness. He draws parallels between connectionist networks and thermostats, highlighting surprising similarities in information processing. This suggests thermostats could model basic conscious experience, given certain criteria. Chalmers argues that complexity alone doesn't explain awareness; while advanced AI mimics consciousness, a fundamental essence remains elusive. He concludes that we must look beyond connectionist models for deeper, yet-to-be-discovered laws to understand consciousness.