LLMs don't experience time like humans: discrete inputs vs continuous sensation
davidmanheim · x · 2026-10-02
Extending his argument on time experience, davidmanheim highlights the key difference between LLMs and humans: humans continuously receive sensory input while processing, whereas LLMs process only discrete inputs and are effectively "paused" between them. Their experience is therefore not time-bound in the human sense — in his words, LLMs are indeed being simulated, paused between inputs.
Related event: AI Safety Researcher Debates Whether LLMs Can Experience Time(2 posts)→
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