Why Artificial Intelligence Cannot Equal Human Consciousness: A Response to Ron Horgan
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that AI cannot equal human consciousness because it is a dependent, derivative human artifact, and proposes treating AI as a tool to amplify human agency rather than as an autonomous actor. |
Abstract
This paper critically examines the claim that artificial intelligence (AI) may one day equal human consciousness. It argues that AI, while a powerful tool capable of accelerating research and managing vast datasets, remains a human artifact—limited, dependent, and derivative. Unlike human consciousness, which is rooted in freedom, imagination, and lived experience, AI functions through algorithmic processes of data retrieval, probabilistic modeling, and pattern recognition. The paper highlights the dependence of AI on external infrastructure, the biases embedded by its creators, and its inability to generate authentic self-expression. It also challenges the fallacy of equating AI with divinity, emphasizing the ontological distinction between Creator, humanity, and artifact. Finally, it links the debate to the author’s broader project on the “Third Generation of International Relations,” underscoring the importance of treating AI as a tool for amplifying human agency rather than as an autonomous actor.