Q and A With Thomas Locke: Is Quantum Mechanics the Foundation for AI?

Q: Do you think quantum mechanics will be the theoretical foundation for true Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Thomas Locke: Yes; there are two reasons why quantum mechanics will certainly play a great role, in my opinion.

First, the quantum world is an uncertain world. Just like with human consciousness, this uncertainty breeds an amazing amount of flexibility. There is no way to know in advance the many events that will impact a life, or emotions, or thoughts, or even the next hour. The quantum world is based upon making sense of these uncertainties.

Okay, okay. Making sense is not what most people would say about quantum anything. But still.

Second, there are so many issues about human consciousness that don’t become clear unless we look at it from the world of the impossible.

How is it that two people can experience the same event, and come up with two completely different responses? 

For AI to be really artificial intelligence, it has to go beyond mere thought and actually respond with a sense of uniqueness. For the first time ever, we are looking at a mathematical structure that accepts this amazing component of human life. Our uniqueness.

How about you, friends?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Also in this series:

1. Who is the ideal reader of ‘Trial Run’?
2. How do you use the ‘Tapestry’ writing strategy in ‘Trial Run’?
3. Do you alter details of real places to suit the story?
4. How do you research diverse subjects?
5. What is near-time sci-fi?