8legs: Npr fresh air interview

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Michael Pollan says AI may 'think' — but it will never be conscious

Pollan says AI may 'think' but it will never be conscious, separating simulated thought from genuine feeling.
Pollan argues that true thought is tied to feeling and a living body, not just computation.
The interview covers plant intelligence, noting Mimosa leaves and other plants respond to touch and can remember up to 28 days.
Pollan warns that media and tech shrink space for spontaneous thought, risking our attention for profit.
Pollan discusses whether we should grant moral status to chatbots, calling such ideas potentially dangerous.
The discussion situates consciousness as a frontline issue for technology firms seeking to monetize attention.
Pollan reflects on the self, noting a tension between confidence and the allure of transcending the self through art or psychedelics.
Pollan links plant intelligence to potential consciousness, citing plant responses to predators and memory.
The interview highlights Pollan’s broader aim to explore consciousness across personal and technological realms.
The piece cites Penguin Random House as Pollan's publisher.

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