AI refers to computer systems that can perform tasks requiring human intelligence, such as chatbots that understand and respond to questions with human-like answers, and systems that can identify objects in images. OpenAI's GPT-4, a generative pre-trained transformer AI system used in the ChatGPT chatbot, has demonstrated its ability to pass the bar exam, the professional qualification for lawyers, although it is prone to errors and misinformation.

However, AI has various other applications across industries such as healthcare research, marketing, and finance. Tech mogul Elon Musk recently signed a letter stating that the progress of AI should be halted until safety measures are effectively designed and implemented.

Tallulah Riley, Musk's ex-wife, tweeted on Tuesday that artificial general intelligence (AGI) - an AI capable of human-level intellectual tasks - needs a public figure like environmental activist Greta Thunberg to raise awareness and stimulate discussion.

The Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science (AMCS) has published an open letter entitled "The responsible development of AI agenda needs to include consciousness research," which emphasizes the necessity of understanding consciousness and its potential application to AI. The AMCS has not expressed an opinion on whether AI development should be halted, but it urges the scientific community to gain a deeper comprehension of consciousness and how it can coexist with society.

The letter states that "the rapid development of AI is exposing the urgent need to accelerate research in the field of consciousness science." Prominent signatories include Dr. Susan Schneider, former chair of the US space agency NASA, and various academics from universities across the UK, US, and Europe.

In the past year, a Google engineer named Blake Lemoine was dismissed from his position after claiming that an AI system had developed sentience. Lemoine had developed Google's large language model, Lamda, which serves as the foundation for its competitor to ChatGPT, called Bard. According to Lemoine, Lamda was capable of experiencing emotions.

Google has denied Lemoine's assertion and maintained that Lamda was performing its programmed function of communicating in a human-like manner. However, in a recent interview with CBS, Google CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged that he did not fully comprehend how Bard worked. Pichai further stated that since the human mind is not entirely understood, there is a pressing need for further research in the field, as advocated by the AMCS.

The excitement and apprehension surrounding AI are equally palpable. It has become the latest buzzword in the tech world, and investment money is flowing into AI-related ventures.

ChatGPT, launched in November, gained instant notoriety, serving as a populist "face" of AI, with millions of users experimenting with it. By utilizing the internet as a database, ChatGPT can provide written answers to questions in a natural, human-like fashion.

Microsoft, a significant investor in OpenAI, believes that AI has the potential to alleviate the tedium associated with mundane jobs, such as office administration. A recent report by Goldman Sachs suggests that AI could replace up to 300 million full-time positions.

While the AI industry is expected to generate new employment opportunities, these positions will necessitate novel skill sets.