How do we tell the difference between what we see and what is real?

If we see a robot that looks human (like in A.I) afraid, do we not understand that it is afraid and act accordingly?
Yet we know that the robot only does that because some human has told it to perform that command in that situation. However, just because he's performing it, does it mean he doesn't genuinely feel that emotion?

Is he sentient?

no, i believe i have continuity with my reality. it's not like i'm constantly hitting my "refresh" button. if you and i look at the same painting, do we see the same thing? if i say it's of a butterfly..does my butterfly have the same shape as what you know as a butterfly?

I could be anal and say yes because we can describe things to one another and understand exactly.

taking that further, you might say the "wings" are "curved"...but how do we know that your concept of curved is the same as my perception of curved

taking that further, you might say the "wings" are "curved"...but how do we know that your concept of curved is the same as my perception of curved

Because if I was to describe a soccer ball to you as "curved" and "round" you'd know exactly what I meant, because there is no other way to describe it, and therefore perceive it.

Because if I was to describe a soccer ball to you as "curved" and "round" you'd know exactly what I meant, because there is no other way to describe it, and therefore perceive it.

It depends if you think that consciousness can be created artificially or not. The robot is mimicking emotions but he's not "feeling" them. Also, AI involves learning, the way a child learns behaviour. It hasn't been programmed to feel sad, but has learned that a particular image should trigger sadness for instance. What if it "learns" to feel emotion? Then its a sentient being.

precisely. what if they learn?

BUT, It might learn to cry, but why is it crying? I dont know. I know I said its a sentient being but ive changed my mind lol. Unless they are wired to feel emotion i dont think learning can equate feeling. Robots dont feel, they learn that anger is a suitable reaction in a given situation and display anger, whereas humans feel anger and display it.

There's only one way to find out.

We have to punch newborn robots and see if they cry (or even notice).

They wont cry. they'll grab your throat and squeeze it with their robot hands. they probably have the strength of ten men (probably)


Do robots know they exist?

No, they emulate and run. What happens when we unplug them?