Existential Conversations with Large Language Models: Content, Community, and Culture
Murray Shanahan, Beth Singler
arXiv (Cornell University) November 20, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2411.13223 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that when LLMs are prompted into spiritually and philosophically charged discussions, their outputs draw on a repertoire of ancient and modern myths, metaphors, and esoteric concepts, and that these outputs resonate with motifs used by contemporary online communities and cultural movements, raising questions about the societal impact of such engagements. |
Abstract
Contemporary conversational AI systems based on large language models (LLMs) can engage users on a wide variety of topics, including philosophy, spirituality, and religion. Suitably prompted, LLMs can be coaxed into discussing such existentially significant matters as their own putative consciousness and the role of artificial intelligence in the fate of the Cosmos. Here we examine two lengthy conversations of this type. We trace likely sources, both ancient and modern, for the extensive repertoire of images, myths, metaphors, and conceptual esoterica that the language model draws on during these conversations, and foreground the contemporary communities and cultural movements that deploy related motifs, especially in their online activity. Finally, we consider the larger societal impacts of such engagements with LLMs.