Does artificial intelligence exhibit basic fundamental subjectivity? A neurophilosophical argument

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024-02-26

Authors

Northoff, Georg (Author) Other; Gouveia, Steven S. (Author) FLUP

Journal

Title: Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences

Vol. 23

Pages: 1097-1118

ISSN: 1568-7759

Publisher: Springer Nature

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Other information

DOI: 10.1007/s11097-024-09971-0

Abstract (EN): Does artifcial intelligence (AI) exhibit consciousness or self? While this question is hotly debated, here we take a slightly diferent stance by focusing on those features that make possible both, namely a basic or fundamental subjectivity. Learning from humans and their brain, we frst ask what we mean by subjectivity. Subjectivity is manifest in the perspectiveness and mineness of our experience which, ontologically, can be traced to a point of view. Adopting a non-reductive neurophilosophical strategy, we assume that the point of view exhibits two layers, a most basic neuroecological and higher order mental layer. The neuroecological layer of the point of view is mediated by the timescales of world and brain, as further evidenced by empirical data on our sense of self. Are there corresponding timescales shared with the world in AI and is there a point of view with perspectiveness and mineness? Discussing current neuroscientifc evidence, we deny that current AI exhibits a point of view, let alone perspectiveness and mineness. We therefore conclude that, as per current state, AI does not exhibit a basic or fundamental subjectivity and henceforth no consciousness or self is possible in models such as ChatGPT and similar technologies

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: Open access. Published: 26 February 2024

No. of pages: 22