5. The “Real” Question

“A machine has yet to officially pass such a test, and though it’s still a talking point in the dialogue about artificial intelligence, many argue that passing the Turing test doesn’t prove intelligence as much as an ability for mimicry. Which leads to the question: how much of what we call human intelligence is actually just mimicry? Isn’t repetition pretty much the basis of our whole educational system? Also, we often hear the human mind is often likened to a machine. On some level it is a pattern recognition machine, programmed by evolution to detect approaching danger and avoid being eaten. Not surprisingly, studies show that pattern recognition goes up when the mind is experiencing fear. If internet conspiracy culture is any indication, fear seems to be building in the populace. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Reptilian conspiracy, in which a malevolent race of shape-shifting lizard elite controls the world….”

0:00 —The Depersonalization Questionnaire

02:01 —Notes on the Turing Test

09:40 —The Derealization Questionnaire… or, more questions for human robots and robot humans . . .

11:30 minutes

“Poa Alpina” by Biosphere

1. Somewhere in the Distant Present

“My personal space has been invaded by a man looking for an invasion by an insect that practices an invasive form of procreation…”

0:00 —The bug-man…

04:15 —Do you ever suspect that the world actually did end in 2012 and we’ve simply failed to notice? …

04:56 —An elevator glitch leads to a staring contest with a stranger in the 4th floor mirror…

12:31 —Another glitch leads to a case of mistaken birthday…

16:41 minutes

“Poa Alpina” by Biosphere, “Unseen Forces” by Justin Walter