When is a brain organoid a sentience candidate? DOI
Jonathan Birch

Molecular Psychology Brain Behavior and Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 22 - 22

Published: Aug. 20, 2024

It would be unwise to dismiss the possibility of human brain organoids developing sentience. However, scepticism about this idea is appropriate when considering current organoids. It a point consensus that brain-dead not sentient, and lack functioning brainstem. There are nonetheless troubling early warning signs, suggesting organoid research may create forms sentience in near future. To err on side caution, researchers with very different views neural basis should unite behind “brainstem rule”: if develops or innervates brainstem regulates arousal, leads sleep-wake cycles, then it candidate. If creation candidates, moratorium indefinite ban relevant type appropriate. A way forward, more consistent existing approaches animal research, require ethical review harm-benefit analysis for all candidates.

Language: Английский

Emotionless Animals? Constructionist Theories of Emotion Beyond the Human Case DOI Creative Commons
Jonathan Birch

Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 124(1), P. 71 - 94

Published: March 19, 2024

Abstract Could emotions be a uniquely human phenomenon? One prominent theory in emotion science, Lisa Feldman Barrett’s Theory of Constructed Emotion (tce), suggests they might be. The source the sceptical challenge is that tce links to abstract concepts tracking socio-normative expectations, and other animals are unlikely have such concepts. own response relativize perspective an interpreter, but this unpromising. A more promising may amend theory, dropping commitment nature allowing that, like olfactory concepts, disjunctive sensory groundings. Even if were emotionless, would not imply lack morally significant interests. Unconceptualized valenced experiences sufficient basis for interests, occur even absence discrete, constructed emotions.

Language: Английский

Citations

24

Folk psychological attributions of consciousness to large language models DOI Creative Commons
Clara Colombatto, Stephen M. Fleming

Neuroscience of Consciousness, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Technological advances raise new puzzles and challenges for cognitive science the study of how humans think about interact with artificial intelligence (AI). For example, advent large language models their human-like linguistic abilities has raised substantial debate regarding whether or not AI could be conscious. Here, we consider question have subjective experiences such as feelings sensations ('phenomenal consciousness'). While experts from many fields weighed in on this issue academic public discourse, it remains unknown general population attributes phenomenal consciousness to AI. We surveyed a sample US residents (

Language: Английский

Citations

16

The Edge of Sentience DOI
Jonathan Birch

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 19, 2024

Abstract Can octopuses feel pain and pleasure? What about crabs, shrimps, insects, or spiders? How do we tell whether a person unresponsive after severe brain injury might be suffering? When does fetus in the womb start to have conscious experiences? Could there even rudimentary feelings miniature models of human brain, grown from stem cells? And what AI? These are questions edge sentience, they subject enormous, disorienting uncertainty. The stakes immense, neglecting risks can terrible costs. We need err on side caution, yet it’s often far clear ‘erring caution’ should mean practice. going too far? not doing enough? Edge Sentience presents comprehensive precautionary framework designed help us reach ethically sound, evidence-based decisions despite our

Language: Английский

Citations

16

Anthropomorphism, False Beliefs, and Conversational AIs: How Chatbots Undermine Users' Autonomy DOI Creative Commons
Beatrice Marchegiani

Journal of Applied Philosophy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 10, 2025

ABSTRACT Conversational AIs (CAIs) are autonomous systems capable of engaging in natural language interactions with users. Recent advancements have enabled CAIs to engage conversations users that virtually indistinguishable from human interactions. The proliferation advanced creates a significant risk misattributing human‐like traits CAIs. Such false beliefs can occur when the CAI's nature is not disclosed and mistakenly believe they interacting human, or even if CAI disclosed, through subconscious anthropomorphism. Existing literature on anthropomorphism AI addresses instrumental harms associated I argue anthropomorphizing might be bad itself as it undermines user autonomy. My analysis focuses how anthropomorphic lead misapply behavioural norms, thereby affecting their argument will proceed follows. discuss prevalence CAIs, establish empirical claim likely form about explore existing accounts undermine autonomy outline plausible characterization identify which do so. apply this capabilities kind belief

Language: Английский

Citations

1

Artificial consciousness: a perspective from the free energy principle DOI Creative Commons
Wanja Wiese

Philosophical Studies, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 181(8), P. 1947 - 1970

Published: June 26, 2024

Abstract Does the assumption of a weak form computational functionalism, according to which right neural computation is sufficient for consciousness, entail that digital simulation such computations conscious? Or must this be implemented in way, order replicate consciousness? From perspective Karl Friston’s free energy principle, self-organising systems (such as living organisms) share set properties could realised artificial systems, but are not instantiated by computers with classical (von Neumann) architecture. I argue at least one these properties, viz. certain kind causal flow, can used draw distinction between merely simulate, and those actually consciousness.

Language: Английский

Citations

4

Is artificial consciousness achievable? Lessons from the human brain DOI Creative Commons
Michele Farisco, Kathinka Evers,

Jean‐Pierre Changeux

et al.

Neural Networks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 180, P. 106714 - 106714

Published: Sept. 7, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

4

A Comprehensive Taxonomy of Machine Consciousness DOI
Ruilin Qin, Changle Zhou, Mengjie He

et al.

Information Fusion, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 119, P. 102994 - 102994

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0

A multidimensional approach to the self in non-human animals through the Pattern Theory of Self DOI Creative Commons

Matteo Laurenzi,

Antonino Raffone, Shaun Gallagher

et al.

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: April 9, 2025

In the last decades, research on animal consciousness has advanced significantly, fueled by interdisciplinary contributions. However, a critical dimension of experience remains underexplored: self. While traditionally linked to human studies, focused self in animals often been framed dichotomously, distinguishing low-level, bodily, and affective aspects from high-level, cognitive, conceptual dimensions. Emerging evidence suggests broader spectrum self-related features across species, yet current theoretical approaches reduce derivative aspect or prioritize narrow high-level dimensions, such as self-recognition metacognition. To address this gap, we propose an integrated framework grounded Pattern Theory Self (PTS). PTS conceptualizes dynamic, multidimensional construct arising matrix ranging bodily intersubjective normative aspects. We adopting perspective for study animals, emphasizing graded nature within each non-hierarchical organization sense, may accommodate both inter- intra-species variability, enabling researchers investigate diverse organisms without relying anthropocentric biases. that, integrating with insights comparative psychology, neuroscience, ethology, application can show how emerges varying degrees forms, shaped ecological niches adaptive demands.

Language: Английский

Citations

0

Active inference goes to school: the importance of active learning in the age of large language models DOI Creative Commons
Laura Desirée Di Paolo, Ben White, Avel GUÉNIN--CARLUT

et al.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1911)

Published: Aug. 19, 2024

Human learning essentially involves embodied interactions with the material world. But our worlds now include increasing numbers of powerful and (apparently) disembodied generative artificial intelligence (AI). In what follows we ask how best to understand these new (somewhat ‘alien’, because their nature) resources incorporate them in educational practices. We focus on methodologies that encourage exploration ‘prepared’ environments, such as carefully organized settings Montessori education. Using active inference framework, approach questions by thinking about human epistemic foraging prediction error minimization. end arguing AI should figure naturally elements prepared environments facilitating sequences precise enabling trajectories self-correction. ways, anticipate synergies between di s (essentially) forms intelligence. This article is part theme issue ‘Minds movement: cognition age intelligence’.

Language: Английский

Citations

3

The complex affective and cognitive capacities of rats DOI
Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 385(6715), P. 1298 - 1305

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

For several decades, although studies of rat physiology and behavior have abounded, research on emotions has been limited in scope to fear, anxiety, pain. Converging evidence for the capacity many species share others’ affective states emerged, sparking interest empathic capacities rats. Recent demonstrated that rats are a highly cooperative motivated by distress prosocial actions, such as opening door or pulling chain release trapped conspecifics. Studies affect, cognition, neural function provide compelling some represent needs, instrumentally act improve their well-being, thus capable forms targeted helping. Rats’ complex abilities raise importance integrating new measures well-being into scientific research.

Language: Английский

Citations

3