Scholars debate: attributing mental properties to AI confuses metaphor with reality

anilkseth · x · 2026-09-01

The author participates in a debate on whether AI agents possess mental states. He argues against attributing metaphors like "sacrifice" or "want" to AI as reality, warning of dangerous consequences. Citing Chalmers, he questions what we are actually talking to when conversing with LLMs. He supports using the "intentional stance" up to a point but warns against reifying metaphorical attributions.

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