[JamesP81]

Regardless of how intelligence begins -- whether spiritual or physical -- it seems to me there must be a spark, a jump-start, a something-else beyond computing ability. We're not the sum of our brain's computing power.

There are a small number of AI programmers and computer scientists that have the idea that true intelligence, of the human kind, is only possible because of a spiritual influence; the soul. I suppose I would count myself among them; I don't think a being the equal of a human can exist without a soul, because without he can never equal a man. The open question is if God is feeling like AI is a good thing and gives a soul to some AI we try to build or not.

This, of course, doesn't even qualify as educated guesswork. It's a way out there WAG and we won't know if it's right or wrong for a long time. We may never know.

[tpaine]

"-- Regardless of how intelligence begins -- whether spiritual or physical -- it seems to me there must be a spark, a jump-start, a something-else beyond computing ability. We're not the sum of our brain's computing power. --"

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Mirror Test
One benchmark for "self-awareness" in animals and people (and now robots as well) is whether they will perform self-directed actions when looking in a mirror.
When a mark is placed on the forehead of a child, they will only begin to inspect it on their own forehead at the age of 3 or 4. Adult bottlenose dolphins perform similarly in equivalent tests designed for underwater use.

There are a small number of AI programmers and computer scientists that have the idea that true intelligence, of the human kind, is only possible because of a spiritual influence; the soul.
I suppose I would count myself among them; I don't think a being the equal of a human can exist without a soul, because without he can never equal a man.

Are you saying that if a dolphin is proved to be an intelligent being, it must have what we see as a 'soul'?

The open question is if God is feeling like AI is a good thing and gives a soul to some AI we try to build or not. This, of course, doesn't even qualify as educated guesswork. It's a way out there WAG and we won't know if it's right or wrong for a long time. We may never.

I don't see 'soul' as a problem. -- I think its a given that intelligence makes its own morality.
-- It's self evident that the golden rule would make good sense to any entity that attains intelligence/'good sense'.