#16 – Stuart Hameroff on Quantum Biology of Consciousness
In Algo Podcast Episode 16, Stuart Hameroff and Amjad Hussain discuss Quantum Biology of Consciousness.
Skip, recap, or review with timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
4:41 Chalmers’ Hard Problem
7:10 Microtubules & Brain Consciousness
10:29 How to explain consciousness
13:01 Measurement Problem in Quantum Mechanics
16:18 Roger Penrose – Defining Superposition using General Relativity Theory
18:30 Generating Conscious Experience – Self Collapse of the Wave Function
20:13 Meaningless universe without consciousness
23:16 Going inside the neuron for consciousness
24:21 Memory in microtubules
26:23 Consciousness preceded life
28:57 Cognition vs. consciousness
29:39 Perceiving pain & anesthesia
34:09 Chronic pain vs. acute pain
35:36 How anesthesia works
40:34 Lipid Theory
41:30 Proteins bound by anesthetics
42:45 Anesthetics dampening quantum oscillations
45:01 Only consciousness has highly organized quantum processes
45:46 Why are only certain parts of the brain conscious?
50:26 Microtubules in the body
53:56 How anesthesia impacts pyramidal cells
57:03 Is consciousness in the cell body of a neuron and/or wiring of the brain?
1:02:14 How quantum brain biology can rescue conscious free will
1:03:25 Stuart Hameroff & Roger Penrose’s Future Plans
1:04:59 Consciousness is interdisciplinary
1:05:31 Maurits Cornelis Escher
1:06:00 Microtubules are like deep learning
1:06:57 Quantum Computing
1:07:48 Looking for organic molecules in asteroids
1:08:40 Astrobiology & Astroconsciousness
1:09:38 Structures for artificial neurons
1:11:31 Consciousness Engineering Research Groups
1:12:44 Recent & Upcoming Conferences
1:19:10 Can non-life forms be conscious?
1:20:59 Organic Chemistry
1:21:49 Consciousness – materialism vs. idealism
1:24:34 Physics leads to materialism
1:25:20 Advice for research groups
1:28:24 How to know if a machine is conscious
Why a podcast about human-centered AI?
People are either talking about artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, deep learning, etc. in a very technical way or not at all. Having studied Computer Science and Advanced Analytics and created an AI – advanced analytics supply chain company, I understand first-hand how valuable the field is, but not everyone does. I want to change that. We can all learn principles of AI and implement them in very practical ways. Whether you want to automate a part of your business or create a new business altogether, AI can help you. My goal through this podcast is to simplify AI.
Calling it a podcast gives you a broad understanding of how we’ll communicate, but the format will be much more engaging than just audio. However, you can listen to AI Simplified like a traditional podcast too.
Amjad Hussain
Founder + Chief Executive Officer, Algo
About the host
Amjad Hussain
Amjad Hussain is an entrepreneur at heart. He founded Algo where he is the CEO during the day and AI lego blocks designer at night. He has built an intrinsically motivated global team of deep business domain experts, AI architects, computer scientists and software engineers. Algo is an always on full stack platform with deep learning, augmented reality and workflow automation woven at its core. The platform has a conversational virtual business analyst persona as its primary user interface. The company is enjoying sustainable growth creating tremendous net new value for its customers world-wide.
Amjad completed his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering with Honors from UET Lahore. He earned his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UMIST, in the United Kingdom and an Advanced Analytics MBA from MIT. He has completed general management programs at Harvard and Stanford business schools. Amjad deeply cares about ethical issues surrounding AI and its societal impact.
