Earlier this month, the Global South Next Gen: Voices and Visions series released a fresh episode featuring young scientists from South Asia and Southeast Asia diving into big AI questions: Can machines truly reciprocate human affection? Do they ever reach self-awareness? And could they become genuine artists after swimming in oceans of data?
When it comes to emotion, experts say AI can mimic feelings – think chatbots sending a virtual hug emoji – but real empathy needs cultural context and personal experience. After all, no algorithm can feel the butterflies during your first Diwali celebration or relate to heartbreak over a broken Rakhri thread. 💔➡️🤖
On self-awareness, it's a philosophical puzzle. Some models can reflect on their decisions or explain why they chose a certain answer, yet they lack subjective consciousness. It's like a travel app listing your must-see spots in Bali, but never feeling the ocean breeze itself.
As for creativity, AI-generated art and music are everywhere – from remixing Bollywood beats to painting dreamlike landscapes. But our panel agrees it's more remix culture on steroids than pure artistic vision. There's still that human spark – like a street rapper freestyling in Jakarta or a traditional kathak dancer improvising with the tabla – that machines can't quite capture.
This discussion reminds us that AI is an incredible tool, but feeling, self-awareness, and true creativity remain distinctly human domains – for now. 💡
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
