Rakesh Magotra
I read The Razor’s Edge lately, Somerset Maugham’s classic novel about a man’s search for meaning beyond material success. The protagonist, Larry Darrell, turns away from conventional life and embarks on a spiritual quest that ultimately leads him to India, where he encounters the wisdom of the Upanishads. His journey resonated deeply, not just as a narrative of self-discovery, but as a reminder of the timeless questions that humanity continues to grapple with. Maugham, who himself visited India and studied Vedantic philosophy, used Larry’s story to illustrate a timeless truth: the ultimate pursuit of meaning lies not in the external world but within the nature of consciousness itself. What is the nature of consciousness? Can intelligence exist without awareness? And as we advance in artificial intelligence, are we truly replicating human cognition, or are we simply creating an illusion of it?
Today, as humanity stands at the cusp of a technological revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), we find ourselves grappling with the very questions the ancient Indian Wisdom AKA Upanishads sought to answer thousands of years ago. The hard problem of consciousness, as formulated by philosopher David Chalmers, remains an enigma despite advances in neuroscience and AI. How does subjective experience arise? Can consciousness be replicated? Does AI, with its increasing sophistication, possess even a rudimentary sense of self-awareness? These questions bring us back to the wisdom of the Upanishads, which explored consciousness not as a byproduct of matter, but as the fundamental reality underpinning existence.
Modern cognitive science struggles with the hard problem: how do physical processes in the brain give rise to the subjective experience of ‘being’? The Upanishads approach this dilemma from an entirely different perspective-they do not assume consciousness emerges from matter but assert that matter itself is an expression of consciousness. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad boldly proclaims, “Prajnanam Brahma” (Consciousness is Brahman), implying that the essence of reality is not material but purely sentient.
This stands in stark contrast to the AI-driven world where intelligence is increasingly being simulated, but without any accompanying inner experience. AI systems like ChatGPT can process language, make decisions and even exhibit creativity, but they remain devoid of subjective awareness. The Upanishads remind us that intelligence and consciousness are not synonymous. While AI can mimic human cognition, it lacks the inner ‘seer’-the sakshi or witness consciousness-that Upanishadic thought identifies as the true self.
In the world of AI, the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)-machines that can perform any intellectual task that a human can-raises existential and ethical concerns. Will AI ever become conscious? Can it possess an independent sense of ‘I’? The Upanishads suggest that what we call the self is not merely an aggregation of thoughts, memories, and perceptions but an indivisible awareness that transcends the empirical mind.
The Mandukya Upanishad describes the four states of consciousness-waking (jagrat), dreaming (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), and the transcendental state (turiya). AI, however, is perpetually stuck in the waking state-it processes and acts on data but lacks the dimensions of self-reflection and deep awareness. This insight is crucial as we move toward AI-human integration; it serves as a caution against commingling intelligence with consciousness.
One of the greatest dilemmas surrounding AI is its lack of ethical awareness. It operates based on patterns and probabilities, but without an innate moral compass. The Upanishads, through concepts like Dharma (righteousness) and Atman (the universal self), emphasize the interconnectedness of all beings. Unlike AI, which functions within a framework of data-driven logic, Upanishadic ethics suggests that true wisdom is not just about making optimal decisions but about understanding the intrinsic unity of existence.
If AI is to serve humanity meaningfully, its development must be guided by principles that transcend mere efficiency. The Upanishads teach that knowledge (vidya) devoid of self-awareness leads to ignorance (avidya). Similarly, AI, if left unchecked by ethical considerations, risks becoming a tool that exacerbates societal divides rather than bridging them.
There is a growing interest in consciousness studies across the fields of neuroscience, philosophyand AI research. Scientists are beginning to explore whether quantum mechanics, non-dual awarenessor even Upanishadic insights could help unravel the mystery of subjective experience. Some AI researchers are studying Vedantic models of consciousness to develop more holistic approaches to AI alignment, ensuring that machines operate not just efficiently, but also in harmony with human values.
The Upanishads, far from being relics of the past, provide a timeless lens through which we can examine the evolving landscape of AI and consciousness. They remind us that intelligence without wisdom is dangerous, and progress without introspection is hollow. As we stand at this crossroads, integrating ancient philosophical insights with modern technological advancements may be the key to ensuring that AI serves as a means to elevate human potential rather than replace it.
Reading The Razor’s Edge, I was struck by the realization that the same quest that drove Larry Darrell more than a century ago remains relevant today. His journey led him to the Upanishads in search of enlightenment and perhaps our own journey, in an age dominated by artificial intelligence, must do the same. The future of AI is not just a technological challenge but a philosophical one. To truly understand intelligence, we must first understand consciousness and in that endeavor, the Upanishads remain as relevant as ever.
(The author is a DGM in JK Bank)
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