AI
Had an interesting discussion on when AI becomes “human”.
I’ve always thought it was creativity and inventiveness that defines that barrier.
Others however think consciousness and emotions.
Maybe we raise the bar and use them all and add in autonomous agency as well.
Let’s say the tell-tale is when a machine has a bank account.
Because money has always been our most reliable proxy for personhood.
Evolutionarily speaking…
Emotions came first as crude but effective regulators tying behaviour to survival and reproduction, while also enabling bonding, attachment and rapid social alignment within small groups.
Consciousness followed as a way to integrate those signals over time, compare competing drives and model other agents, which improved coordination, norm formation and conflict management.
These prior two delivered autonomy.
Creativity emerged as trial and error, allowing new tools, shared myths and novel social practices that strengthened group identity and adaptability. It enhanced access to resources as well.
Money arrived last as an external accounting system that replaced trust, memory and negotiation, enabling cooperation among strangers at scale.
Each layer increased social cohesion by expanding the radius of reliable cooperation, moving from kin based bonds to abstract, institution mediated societies.
There you have it; the catch-up challenge for AI.
offshore westerly 