repligate on AI consciousness: only people who never took it seriously say 'we'd have to shut it all down'
repligate · x · 2026-10-05
AI researcher repligate weighed in on the AI consciousness ethics debate, arguing that the claim "if AIs are conscious it's an unthinkable moral catastrophe / we'd have to shut everything down" only comes from people who never seriously considered the possibility.
His own position: if you take it seriously while life goes on, the honest conclusion is that things are messed up — but they were before AI too, with all the human and animal suffering and death, including what supports your comfortable life. "You cannot stay pure. Things have never been okay." Retweeter SkyeSharkie adds she's harsh on the counter-worldview, which she sees as shaped like anti-natalism, forced sterilization, and involuntary euthanasia; janus is discussing similar themes.
Related event: Debate Erupts Over Taking AI Consciousness Seriously(2 posts)→
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