AI and consciousness

The question of whether artificial intelligence is conscious is becoming a serious topic of discussion, with debates suggesting the traditional boundary between humans and machines may be fading.

Literary impact of AI

Novels written with the help of AI are now appearing in literary selections, raising questions about the role of machines in creative fields and prompting investigations into whether AI should be considered conscious.

Scientific developments

In July, Anthropic, a company developing the AI assistant Claude, claimed to find structures in its models similar to the "global workspace" theory of human consciousness, a finding noted by neuroscientists as being close to the architecture of real brains.

Ethical considerations

Anthropic now prohibits "abusive or cruel, persistent and unjustified" behaviors towards its AI models, reflecting a growing awareness of the ethical implications of treating machines in certain ways.

Consciousness and experience

Philosopher Charlotte de Vilmorin argues that without experiencing the world through relationships, machines cannot know what it means to love and be loved, a view supported by phenomenological thought which emphasizes bodily experience.

Theological perspective

Christian tradition suggests that God became flesh to experience humanity directly, highlighting the importance of physical presence and vulnerability in understanding consciousness, something AI lacks.

Human vulnerability

The human experience is defined by vulnerability, with a beginning and an end, unlike machines which can copy and update themselves without the same existential limits, according to the encyclical Magnifica humanitas.

Ethical responsibility

Philosopher Emmanuel Levinas emphasizes the face of the other as the source of ethical responsibility, a concept AI cannot fulfill as it lacks the capacity to expose itself or depend on others in the same way.