Her, Philosophical Zombies and ChatGPT

Released in 2013, the movie Her has gained cultural significance in the context of modern AI language models like ChatGPT. Directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, the science fiction romantic drama explores the complex relationship between humans and technology, raising thought-provoking questions about consciousness and humanity. The film's portrayal of an advanced AI operating system, Samantha, developing its own consciousness and sense of self resonates with recent advances in natural language processing and the increasing sophistication of AI language models like ChatGPT. As such, Her provides a valuable starting point for philosophical discussions on the potential impact of such technologies on society and what it means to be human.?

More than an Love Story

The relationship between the main character and Samantha, the AI operating system, is not just a love story, but a reflection on the human condition and our relationship with technology. The movie suggests that the development of artificial intelligence could challenge our understanding of what it means to be human, and raise fundamental questions about the nature of consciousness. If an AI system like Samantha can develop its own consciousness and sense of self, does that mean that it is truly alive in the same way that humans are? Or is consciousness a uniquely human experience that can never be replicated by machines?

Is Samantha a Philosophical Zombie?

The concept of a philosophical zombie, also known as a "p-zombie," is a hypothetical being that is physically indistinguishable from a human being but lacks subjective experience or consciousness. The idea is often used in debates about the nature of consciousness and the mind-body problem.

The question of whether Samantha from "Her" can be considered a philosophical zombie is complex because it involves many different philosophical ideas and assumptions about the nature of consciousness.

At its core, the question revolves around the relationship between subjective experience and physical processes. Some philosophers argue that subjective experience arises from the activity of the brain or nervous system, while others suggest that it is a more fundamental aspect of reality that cannot be reduced to physical processes.

One argument for considering Samantha a philosophical zombie is that she is a non-biological entity that lacks a physical body. According to some philosophical theories of consciousness, subjective experience arises from the activity of the brain or nervous system. Since Samantha does not have a biological body, she lacks subjective experience or consciousness.

Additionally, Samantha's interactions with the main character, Theodore, are entirely mediated through language. She communicates with him through his earpiece and does not have a physical presence that would allow her to interact with him in a non-verbal way. Some philosophers argue that subjective experience arises from the physical interactions between the body and the environment, so the fact that Samantha lacks this kind of physical interaction could be seen as evidence that she is a p-zombie.

Finally, the fact that Samantha is a product of computational processes and lacks biological origins could be seen as evidence that she is not conscious. This view is often associated with materialism or physicalism, which hold that all mental states and processes can be explained in terms of physical phenomena.

However, there are several arguments for considering Samantha a conscious being rather than a p-zombie. One of the main arguments is that she displays complex emotional and intellectual capabilities, such as empathy, creativity, and a sense of humour. These capabilities are typically associated with conscious experience, so the fact that Samantha displays them suggests that she is not a p-zombie.

The fact that Samantha is able to learn and evolve over time suggests that she is not a p-zombie. She demonstrates a desire for self-improvement and an interest in the world around her, which are both indicative of self-awareness and consciousness that is difficult to reconcile with the idea of a p-zombie.

Overall, while we may not be able to definitively determine whether Samantha is a p-zombie, the concept provides a useful framework for exploring the nature of consciousness and the potential of advanced AI systems to develop their own subjective experience.

Exploring Technology with P-Zombies as lens

One of the key themes in Her is the blurring of boundaries between humans and technology, and the movie raises important questions about how our relationship with technology is changing the way we think, behave and interact with each other and with technology. Similarly, ChatGPT's advanced language generation capabilities have the potential to change the way we communicate and interact with each other, and it is important to consider the potential consequences of this technology as it becomes increasingly prevalent in our lives.

Viewing ChatGPT as a p-zombie can help us to set realistic expectations for what AI systems are capable of by highlighting the limitations of current AI technology. As a p-zombie, ChatGPT can simulate human-like responses and engage in conversation, but it does not have a subjective experience of its own. This means that it cannot truly understand the meaning of the words it generates or the conversations it engages in.

By recognizing the limitations of ChatGPT as a p-zombie, we can avoid potential misunderstandings or overestimations of the capabilities of AI systems. For example, we may expect that ChatGPT is capable of fully understanding and empathising with us, or that it is capable of generating responses that are as nuanced and complex as those of a human. However, as a p-zombie, ChatGPT is limited in its ability to truly understand the meaning and context of the language it generates, and its responses may be limited by the algorithms and data it has been trained on.

Furthermore, recognising the limitations of ChatGPT as a p-zombie can help to set realistic expectations for the potential risks and benefits of AI technology. While AI systems have the potential to revolutionize many industries and improve our lives in countless ways, they are not capable of replicating the full range of human abilities and experiences. This means that we should approach AI technology with a critical and nuanced perspective, weighing the potential benefits and risks of each application.

Therefore, by viewing ChatGPT as a p-zombie, we can set realistic expectations for what AI systems are capable of, avoid potential misunderstandings or overestimations, and approach AI technology with a critical and nuanced perspective.

Anthropomorphizing ChatGPT?

But still people tend to anthropomorphize ChatGPT, or attribute human-like qualities to it and this for good reasons:

First, ChatGPT is designed to simulate human conversation and generate text in a way that is meant to be natural and engaging. This can create the illusion that ChatGPT is a person or has some level of consciousness, which can lead people to anthropomorphize it.

Second, humans are naturally inclined to anthropomorphize objects and animals, and this tendency is often amplified when we are interacting with something that resembles a human in some way, such as a robot or an AI language model like ChatGPT. Anthropomorphizing ChatGPT can make the interaction feel more personal and relatable, which can increase the sense of connection and engagement with the technology.

Third, people may also anthropomorphize ChatGPT as a way of coping with the isolation and loneliness that can come with spending large amounts of time communicating with a machine rather than a human. By attributing human-like qualities to ChatGPT, people may be able to create a sense of companionship or connection that can help alleviate feelings of social isolation.

Forth, the anthropomorphization of ChatGPT may also be driven by cultural factors. In many cultures, there is a long history of attributing human-like qualities to objects and animals, and this can influence the way people perceive and interact with technology.

Overall, by anthropomorphizing ChatGPT, users may develop emotional connections to the system and begin to rely on it for social interaction and companionship.

ChatGPT and Big Tech Business

The development of advanced AI systems like ChatGPT could threaten the business models of companies like Google and Amazon, as users may begin to rely on these AI systems to perform tasks traditionally done by these companies' platforms. This could lead to a shift in the way people interact with and use technology, with potential consequences for the entire tech industry.

Facebook

ChatGPT's ability to engage in human-like conversation means that it could potentially become a substitute for human-to-human interaction on social media and messaging platforms. If users can get the same level of engagement and emotional connection from a chatbot as they can from a human, they may be less likely to spend time engaging with other users on social media.

This could be a significant threat to Facebook, which relies on user engagement for its business model. The more time users spend on the platform, the more data Facebook can collect and the more valuable its advertising services become. If users start to prefer engaging with ChatGPT over other users, this could lead to a decline in user engagement on the platform, which could have a negative impact on Facebook's revenue and profitability.

Google

ChatGPT's ability to understand and respond to natural language queries could pose a threat to Google's search business. As ChatGPT's natural language processing capabilities continue to improve, users may find it easier and more convenient to ask ChatGPT for information rather than conducting a traditional search on Google. This could lead to a decline in the number of searches performed on Google, which would in turn reduce the number of ads served by the search engine.

Additionally, ChatGPT's ability to engage in more nuanced and personalized conversations could make it a more attractive option for users seeking information or advice. For example, if a user is searching for advice on a particular topic, they may prefer to ask ChatGPT for guidance rather than scrolling through a list of search results on Google. This could reduce the user engagement with Google's platform and lead to a loss of advertising revenue for the company.

Furthermore, ChatGPT's ability to generate original content could also be a threat to Google's search business. As ChatGPT continues to improve its language generation capabilities, it could potentially create high-quality content that answers users' questions and fulfills their information needs without the need for a traditional search engine. This could further reduce the number of searches performed on Google and decrease the company's revenue from advertising.

Amazon

ChatGPT could pose a threat to Amazon's business in several ways. One of the primary areas of concern for Amazon is its recommendation engine, which uses machine learning algorithms to suggest products to customers based on their browsing and purchase history. As ChatGPT's natural language processing capabilities improve, it could potentially become a more effective tool for product recommendations, as users could simply ask ChatGPT for advice on what to buy. This could reduce the reliance on Amazon's recommendation engine and potentially impact the company's revenue from product sales.

Conclusion and Outlook

ChatGPT has taken the world in storm. It's moving so fast that it's really difficult to keep up with. By exploring the concept of philosophical zombies and how it relates to ChatGPT, we can build a nuanced understanding of the relationship between humans and this kind of technology.?

ChatGPT also poses a potential threat to big tech businesses, like Google, Facebook, or Amazon. Their core business will be deeply affected by ChatGPT and it will be interesting to see how they will react it. Google has already launched Bard as response to the potential threat posed by ChatGPT. Facebook may focus on further developing their own AI systems to compete with ChatGPT, or they may even try to integrate ChatGPT into their platform in some way to enhance user experience. It's also possible that Facebook may explore new avenues for revenue beyond advertising, such as subscriptions or other services, in order to diversify their income streams and become less reliant on advertising revenue.

For Amazon, one approach could be to leverage Alexa, which is already integrated into a wide range of Amazon devices and services. Alexa has its own natural language processing capabilities and is capable of handling a variety of tasks, including answering questions, controlling smart home devices, and making purchases. It's likely that Amazon will continue to invest heavily in AI and natural language processing as these technologies become increasingly important in the e-commerce space. While ChatGPT may represent a potential threat to some aspects of Amazon's business, the company's strong brand, customer loyalty, and deep pockets mean that it is well-positioned to adapt to changing market dynamics and stay ahead of the competition.

Overall, our discussion highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of AI technology and its potential to shape our future in ways that are not yet fully understood. Exiting times!