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The strong
AI postulate is the
assumption that
artificial intelligence (AI) is possible - true, complete, artificial intelligence that is
equivalent, or even
superior, to the form of intelligence demostrated by
human beings. In essence, it is saying that intelligence is not a function of the
material it is made out of - that something made out of
silicon and
semiconductors can process information equivalently to one made out of
organic materials. That there is nothing
inherently unique about the brain of humans that is not
reproducible. This does rule out the existence of a
soul or other similar "
spirit" that is necessary for life.
Whether this is an actual truth or not has yet to be determined, and it is likely this will continue to be unknown for many years. The strong AI postulate, though, is still often used in futurist/transhuman/extropian discussions and ideas, as many technologies and possibilities may come from such a development. For example, the idea of uploading a consciousness would require this to be true, as moving your consciousness from an organic body to a machine would require the ability for a "machine" to be intelligent.