A Protocol for Testing Conscious Learning Robots
Juyang Weng · 2023
This is a theoretical paper. The theory [31] and algorithm [32] for conscious learning have been recently published. Developmental scales for human children are well developed. Such scales need to be adapted to testing conscious learning robots. Without such adaptations, future conscious robots lack a standard, even if the theory and algorithm for conscious learning are implemented and refined in the future. This paper discusses such an adaptation, but does not include actual experimental results. It first proposes that an open skull will not allow a conscious brain because the open skull allows a conscious homunculus (human) who takes over the job of consciousness. That is why the currently popular “open skull” machine learning protocols will not produce conscious robots. Then, the paper borrows some of the milestones from human mental development measured in terms of human mental ages. The author hopes that independent laboratories will conduct tests using the milestones suggested here, so as to see whether the new protocol is suited for measuring robotic consciousness. Due to space limitations, this paper does not explain conscious learning. The reader should first read [32] before reading this paper. For four aspects of transfer across milestones, the reader should read [28] (e.g., Sec. 10.3).