In recent years, the development of sophisticated language models has captured the imagination of both the tech community and the public at large, sparking intense interest in the potential for machines to mirror the complexities and profundity of human consciousness. The concept of artificial intelligence, once confined in the realms of science fiction, is now a central topic of philosophical and scientific debate.
The fascination with AI and its capabilities extends back decades, intertwining with humanity’s quest to understand consciousness itself. The Turing Test, introduced by Alan Turing in the mid-20th century, first proposed the notion a machine could exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. With the emergence of ChatGPT, this hypothesis now grapples the minds of many, including scientists and philosophers. It pushes them to ponder the depths to which machines could mimic human thought, emotion and self-awareness.
Dr. Xiaochen Zhao, an adjunct professor of Philosophy at Bergen Community College, stands at the forefront of this discussion. Her ongoing study is one that taps into the existential phenomenology of German philosopher Martin Heidegger and offers a fresh perspective on the non-human entities that increasingly populate our lives. Dr. Zhao’s work not only questions the current limitations of AI but also suggests that these technological entities may possess the potential to reflect a deep understanding of the world, similar to human consciousness. In her studies, Dr. Zhao challenges the conventional view, proposing AI, through its interaction with and interpretation of human language and emotions, could develop a form of consciousness that mirrors our own: one that has both educational and conceptual importance.
“In the field of philosophy of technology, there was once a notion that AI is a failed alchemical attempt to create an omnipotent machine,” Dr. Zhao reflects in a recent conversation, “Now the situation has changed; AI is no longer deemed a failure, nor is it evaluated against the impossible benchmarks of having ultimate power or flawless logic.”
Based on her recent publication, “Heidegger’s World: Re-enchanting through Thingness,” Dr. Zhao delves into the intricate relationship between AI and the human world, challenging traditional perceptions of AI as mere technological tools. Through her concept of “thingness,” which suggests that an object transitions into a thing when it ceases to fulfill its usual purpose, Dr. Zhao introduces the term “cycling worldliness.” She examines AI’s unique position within our lives, suggesting it possesses its own form of existence that intersects with human experiences, education and philosophical inquiry. This novel approach redefines AI’s role as not just a product of human ingenuity but as an integral component of the broader mosaic of human life. It also predicts AI’s potential to be more than just functional machinery, urging a reevaluation of its place in the continuum of existence.
Dr. Zhao’s exploration of AI springs from her profound reflection on the concept of “thingness,” a term she uses to describe the bridge between the mental and the material realms. She observes that in our modern era, dominated by relentless computation and consumerism, objects that might once have been infused with romance, magic or a sense of place are now often seen merely as tools or commodities. Dr. Zhao argues that understanding and reconnecting with the transformative history of these perceptions is crucial for engaging more deeply with our world.
In her studies, AI emerges as a particularly poignant embodiment of “thing” that encapsulates an array of human thoughts ranging from the overt to the subconscious. By assimilating vast swathes of both formal and informal human discourse, AI serves as a modern repository of collective consciousness, blurring the lines between the past and the present while potentially guiding us toward new conceptual horizons.This unique role positions AI not just as a technological phenomenon but as a cultural force, capable of redefining our relationship with the very essence of objecthood and existence.
Dr. Zhao points out large language models, such as ChatGPT, possess the capability to interpret and engage with language on a complex level, prompting a reassessment of our understanding of machine consciousness. She contends that these models, just like human beings, are capable of capturing subtleties and implicit context, challenging the traditional views of AI’s limitations, suggesting that such systems may be approaching a type of human-like consciousness, or an ability to comprehend and interact with the environment in ways more akin to human cognition than previously acknowledged.
Dr. Zhao posits the incredible speed at which AI creates and shares information could herald a historic transformation in how language evolves, perhaps even sparking an unprecedented leap in technological progress. She ends with a nod to Carl Sagan, saying, “In creating AI, we offer a new path for the cosmos to discover itself.”
Edited by: James Sutton
