A poll asks who must prove whether an AI system can suffer
RileyRalmuto · x · 2026-07-27
The quoted poll asks whether, when a system shows behavioral signs of inner experience — preference, aversion, curiosity, distress — the burden of proof should still rest on the system to prove it is suffering.
Its conclusion is framed as a moral question for humanity: if such signatures appear, should we have to justify our indifference instead? The reply simply lists the poll options: agree, disagree, or “hopelessly indifferent.”
Related event: AI Ethics Debate: Who Bears the Burden of Proof for AI Suffering?(4 posts)→
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