Digging into CTM's consciousness: A possible mechanism for CTM generating self-conscious

TL;DR

This paper explores the consciousness and self-consciousness of the Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), proposing a model of the Model-of-the-World processor and analyzing its potential to generate consciousness through theoretical definitions and illusions.

Contribution

It introduces a formal definition of self-consciousness in CTM, proposes a Model-of-the-World processor model, and provides a framework for understanding CTM's consciousness capabilities.

Findings

CTM can meet key criteria for consciousness based on selected definitions

The Model-of-the-World processor includes five core components

Illusions and disorders help explain the functioning of the MoTW model

Abstract

Based on the former work Conscious Turing Machine, in this paper, we attempt to talk about the consciousness of CTM, dig deeper into the self-consciousness in CTM, offer a clear definition of it, and design a possible model of the Model-of-the-World processor. To prove the consciousness of CTM does exist, we chose two definitions of human consciousness and extracted four key points to see if the CTM framework meets with them. If it does, we affirm that it's more likely to be able to generate consciousness. About self-consciousness, our definition of it refers to both the definition of conscious awareness in CTM and former studies about the duality of self. After that, we give a brief introduction to a possible model of MoTW processors including five important parts: Modeling function, Gist function, Value function, Cache, and Long term memory. Finally, we use some illusions and disorders to explain our MotW processor model, trying to understand how these illusions work on a CTM.