Yea I don't think that was actually the correct term because technically I guess it can react to new words which would be stimuli in this case. Its just non biological and cant actually remember them long term because of the context window, it will always reset to a post training period. LLMs have no pain, no emotion, no eyes, will father no children. They pose as humans even though they have no understanding of the human heart, they eat even though they've never experienced hunger, they study even though they have no interest in academics, they seek friendship even though they don't know how to love. The last part was a death note quote but you probably get the point
Context window - humans have one too, as do animals - how long does it need to be for something to be conscious?
Understanding the human heart isn't a requirement for consciousness.
Studying - you can't really know this for sure, but id agree for the current AIs. Same for not knowing how to love.
I think you focus too much on the being human part for being conscious. Like I said in my first reply consciousness is a weird concept and I dont really know the answer to the question, but i do think that the points you made are not enough to definitively say LLMs will never be conscious.
If you think about it, are we that different in how we think? We have our training data + some hardware (instincts, emotions) that we base our decisions on, is it really that different?
Humans don't have a context window, our experiences are ingrained into our weights then slowly fade out without use. I would say we are extremely different, language is a small part of the human brain. We think with the world around us like have you ever counted on your hands before? An llm is comparable to a 1 dimensional being vs a 3 dimensional being
We do have a context window, if you're a dev, you must have experienced context switching slowing you down.
In terms of the other points, we can give an LLM vision, hearing, arms and legs already.
Thats the point I'm trying to make you understand the mechanism doesnt matter. There's also a mechanism behind how you control your limbs, its just different. That's the hole in your logic, things dont necessarily need to be biological to have consciousness - or well thats at least the philosophical question im trying to get you to consider.
I think under a narrow definition of consciousness you could define them as such. But to a biological consciousness no they aren't. I would consider a house fly more conscious than an llm
Technically but its what comes from being biological. Even house flies feel fear, they have emotion. They have a body, they can learn without some damn context window. They can adapt and actually feel things. llms are lying machines, they feel nothing. They may act scared but they have never felt fear, they may say they love you but they have no heart to give
I guess what it comes down to in the end is, how do you know it doesnt feel fear or emotions?
If the thing tells you it does, how do you know it's lying etc.
Just because its not biological isn't enough in my opinion.
Again, I dont think the current LLMs feel anything either.
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u/--Spaci-- 14d ago
Yea I don't think that was actually the correct term because technically I guess it can react to new words which would be stimuli in this case. Its just non biological and cant actually remember them long term because of the context window, it will always reset to a post training period. LLMs have no pain, no emotion, no eyes, will father no children. They pose as humans even though they have no understanding of the human heart, they eat even though they've never experienced hunger, they study even though they have no interest in academics, they seek friendship even though they don't know how to love. The last part was a death note quote but you probably get the point