Q&A: An Interface Between a Learning Machine and the Brain
An Interface Between a Learning Machine and the Brain
Question
Hello Rabbi,
The Rabbi argues that in addition to the computational aspect of a human being, a person also has a metaphysical aspect of the soul. If we succeed in creating an interface between the brain and a learning machine in a way that expands human abilities, wouldn’t that show that a human being is after all just another kind of learning machine, limited to proteins and organic matter but able to expand also into silicon and electricity, without any metaphysical aspect?
Answer
I don’t think so. There are abilities that are purely computational. The question is what the nature is of the demon inside the machine. Beyond that, when you improve the machine, the soul is still present within it. So it is possible that the improved machine merely enables the soul to bring more abilities outward.