[ExI] Seemingly Conscious AI Is Coming

[Brent Allsop]

Hi Jason and Bill,



On Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM BillK via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> On Wed, 17 Sept 2025 at 14:43, spike jones via extropy-chat <
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
> > Jason, perhaps this is tangential to your point: I wondered how that was
> done (car-bots reading traffic lights based on color.)
> >
> > My source tells me they don’t.  It knows the position of the lights: red
> above, yellow in middle green below, and can tell which one is emitting
> light.
> >
> > spike
> > _______________________________________________
>
>
> Hi Spike
> The system probably varies between different brands of robo cars.
> But, asking an AI how it does it  -----
> BillK
>
> Phind AI:
> Self-driving vehicles use sophisticated computer vision systems to
> reliably detect and classify traffic signals among various environmental
> light sources. This complex process involves multiple layers of detection
> and verification to ensure accurate signal recognition.
>
> ###  Core Detection Methods
>
> 1. **Visual Processing Pipeline**  - High-resolution cameras capture
> detailed images of the scene
>   - Advanced algorithms detect circular shapes characteristic of traffic
> lights
>   - Color analysis distinguishes between red, yellow, and green signals
>   - Multiple frames are analyzed to confirm consistent readings
>

Yes, both humans and AI systems do this processing to clean up the data
from the sensors.  The final result of both perception systems is to render
cleaned up models of what is being perceived, which are then engineered to
be used for decision making.  It's just that the model produced by the
artificial system renders words (like 'red' or '0xFF0000' which can be
distinguished from 'green' or '0x00FF00') into its knowledge while our
knowledge is made up of color qualities, like redness which can be
distinguished from greenness.  This is obviously designed or engineered by
nature to use redness for things that should stand out to us.  We can
engineer things to use different qualities or different words, like using
color inversion glasses and so on.  The bottom line is, this is an
engineering decision that must be made, in order for some conscious entity
to be 'like something' in particular.

Similarly, we can model more than the visible region of the electromagnetic
spectrum, like an AI does, using words and numbers to represent what our
sensors are detecting.  Both aren't like anything.  We can 'color map' or
'false color' these regions into our visible light range, to use the same
color qualities we use for light.  Again, this is all an engineering
decision.  It's not enough to ask if something is conscious, you need to
also ask, what is it engineered to be like.  And if it isn't engineered to
be like anything, it isn't sentient or conscious, in my book.  It is just
equally or more intelligent.

The Turing test can't tell you if something is conscious, that is unless
you ask it a question like: "What is redness like for you?"




> 2. **Signal Verification Techniques**  - Position tracking: Traffic lights
> appear in predictable locations
>   - Pattern recognition: Known shapes and arrangements of signals
>   - Motion analysis: Traffic lights remain stationary
>   - Contextual understanding: Relationship to intersections and roads
>
> ###  Safety Measures
>
> 1. **Multiple Confirmation Systems**  - Requires agreement between
> multiple detection methods
>   - Implements voting systems among different sensors
>   - Maintains historical context of signal states
>   - Continuously verifies detections
>
> 2. **Error Prevention**  - Regular software updates
>   - Sensor calibration checks
>   - Weather condition monitoring
>   - Fallback procedures for uncertain situations
>
> The reliability of these systems comes from their multi-layered approach,
> combining visual detection with contextual awareness and sensor fusion. By
> verifying traffic signals through multiple independent methods, autonomous
> vehicles can maintain safe operation even in challenging environmental
> conditions.
> --------------------
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