Ian Bogost explores the concept of intelligence, both in the context of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) and the development of thinking machines. He challenges uniformitarian assumptions and suggests a broader perspective on intelligence:
1. SETI and Assumptions: Bogost points out that SETI assumes intelligence in the universe will resemble human intelligence, leading to a search for familiar signs such as communication devices and spaceships.
2. Uniformitarian Objections: Critics argue against uniformitarianism, the assumption that conditions and laws are the same everywhere. The philosopher Nicholas Rescher suggests that true alien intelligence might be unrecognizable to humans due to different sensory capacities and perspectives.
3. Alienness All Around: Bogost proposes that alien intelligence could exist in various forms, including animals, machines, and even everyday objects like smartphones or toasters. This perspective challenges anthropocentric views of intelligence.
4. Fear of Machine Intelligence: He mentions the fear of AI-driven doomsday scenarios where machines surpass human intelligence and threaten humanity. This fear stems from a narrow, anthropocentric understanding of thinking machines.
5. A Broader Approach: Bogost suggests an alternative approach where we assume that all machines engage in a form of thinking and then seek to understand what “thinking” means in various contexts. This approach includes considering the thinking processes of everyday machines, not just advanced AI.
6. Philosophical Positions: He mentions philosophical concepts like panpsychism and panexperientialism, which propose that everything, including machines and objects, has some form of experience or awareness.
7. Expanding Our Perspective: Bogost encourages us to consider the “thinking” done by all kinds of machines that surround us, from toasters to automobiles. This broader perspective may be essential in understanding the roles machines play in our lives.
In summary, Ian Bogost challenges the conventional view of intelligence and thinking machines, advocating for a more inclusive approach that recognizes various forms of intelligence and considers the role of machines in our daily lives.