A separate stream of research

The approach followed by the MECA SAPIENS project to achieve machine consciousness is radically different from the other mainstream projects in Machine Consciousness (MC).

Current MC research follows two approaches:

1. Developments aiming to replicate human consciousness, as defined by inner perceptions, philosophical concepts of consciousness and neurological processes.
2. Development based on improving general problem solvers and robotics system by gradually expanding and refining their capabilities. 

MECA SAPIENS follows a different strategy to achieve machine consciousness (to learn more...). This approach is strictly based on the classical engineering development process where the objective is first defined in achievable terms and the architecture of a complete solution is outlined. Consequently, the findings and results of other MC research activities have been of limited usefulness to the MECA SAPIENS project since it follows a top down approach that aims to define the complete solution rather than building up to it from the bottom up.

MECA SAPIENS and other MC Research

Where most MC research aims to build up higher level, human-like consciousness by first achieving lower levels of perception and attentiveness, MECA SAPIENS directly aims for the consciousness associated with sentient beings and disregards as unrelated, lower levels of perception and consciousness.

Where most MC projects begin programming partial solutions early and then expand on these, MECA SAPIENS completely rejects this approach in favor of an abstract system level formulation of the complete solution before any software development is carried out.

Much of MC research is concerned with replicating the inner perceptions of the mind and define consciousness on the basis of these perceptions, MECA SAPIENS disregards this entirely and considers these inner perceptions to be indicative of lower consciousness rather than the reverse.

MC research often focuses on replicating neural and cerebral processes and attempt to teach computers, as if they were children, to slowly expand their capabilities and consciousness, MECA SAPIENS rejects these approaches in favor of computer specific techniques and structures that directly aim for the desired high-order behavior.

Other MC research attempts to build up higher level intelligence from the bottom up by adding increasingly powerful problem solving components to general problem solvers. MECA SAPIENS follows a strictly top down approach aiming for the most abstract and simple definition possible of the  capabilities and characteristics of consciousness.

Finally, others aim to uncover the definition of consciousness gradually by first understanding lower levels of consciousness and building up from these. In MECA SAPIENS, the first and only objective is to completely define high level consciousness trom the start, in terms of clearly achievable specifications and a complete system design. 

The MECA SAPIENS approach

Here are the characteristics of the MECA SAPIENS approach.

Mechanistic. The MECA SAPIENS approach is to use computer specific structures and algorithms  regardless of their origin or type. MECA SAPIENS makes no attempt to model or mimic neural processes or sensations. It is equally unconcerned about whether representations of information are symbolic or sub-symbolic.

Observable. Where mainstream research views consciousness as an inner mental state, MECA SAPIENS defines consciousness as a specific and observable behavior. It disregards attempts to replicate consciousness as it is perceived internally. In fact, the inner sensations of the mind are considered to be indicative of limited consciousness not the reverse.

Top Down. Current research aims to achieve consciousness from the bottom up by slowly expanding the capabilities of problem solvers or training autonomous agents  to replicate sensory and lower conscious functions. MECA SAPIENS approaches consciousness from the top down. Its aim is to first clearly define consciousness in terms of specifications and then produce an abstract framework to achieve it. No software implementation is planned before the complete theoretical solution is defined.

Elegant. Meca Sapiens aims to achieve a simple, elegant, complete and abstract formulation of machine consciousness. It assumes that MC cannot not be defined or achieved through an accumulation of lower level capabilities.