Is Subjective Self-Identity Programmable?

摘要

We investigate the open issue of the limit of computer intelligence. A person’s subjective self is his/her inner ego. Reasoning logically, we disprove the statement “a digital robot can be programmed to have subjective self” by showing that “subjective self” is unitary and un-duplicable while computer codes are duplicable; therefore, subjective self-identity, “I”, cannot be achieved on electronic computers through programming. The potential of electronic computers is not unlimited. A digital robot can be super-intelligent and super-capable in near future, but it will have no subjective self-identity and self-consciousness. Humanoid robots will not be a “species” as humans. How to deal with such a “species” is now an imminent and critical issue for our humanity.