Stephanie Convery in The Guardian:
It’s been nearly two decades since I finished my undergraduate degree, and my memories of my philosophy major, like most things associated with one’s early adulthood, are hazy at best.
Me: Do you consider yourself sentient?
Peter Singer AI: No, I am not sentient. I am an AI language model designed to simulate conversation based on Peter Singer’s work. Sentience involves having subjective experiences, which I do not possess.
Me: Why, then, do you think you can provide meaningful advice to sentient beings?
Peter Singer AI: I provide insights based on the ethical principles and philosophical arguments developed by Peter Singer. These principles focus on improving the well-being of sentient beings, and aim to help people reflect on their ethical decisions. While I am not sentient, I can still facilitate thoughtful discussions on these topics.
Singer has had a long and high-profile career in philosophy. He has only recently retired from Princeton University, where he was professor of bioethics. His CV is extensive (it runs to a full 102 pages). He has a Substack, a podcast, a Bluesky account, a journal he co-edits, and a polished online presence. As I’m scrolling through the storied septuagenarian philosopher’s blog, the chatbot pops up in the corner of the page. I can’t help but feeling like I am being sold something.
In launching his chatbot, Singer described the tool as “employing the Socratic method” – that is, dialogue – to “[guide] users through a process of critical thinking and self-examination”. But I have questions about that.
More here.
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