AI consciousness debate: Josh Purtell slaps down 'functionalists' over LLM substrate claims
JoshPurtell · x · 2026-10-07
Developer Josh Purtell criticized a common stance in AI circles among self-described functionalists: the belief that "any algorithm conscious in one substrate is conscious in all, obviously, and LLMs are smart so they must be conscious." He argues this view is neither self-consistent nor supported by academic functionalism — human brains, octopus brains, and LLMs on GPUs differ in countless ways, as do GPUs versus hypothetical analog wooden computers; unless consciousness is magical, some of those differences should matter at least in principle. He describes himself as broadly agnostic on machine consciousness.
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