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A clarification of the conditions under which Large language Models could be conscious

Overgaard, Morten and Kirkeby-Hinrup, Asger LU (2024) In Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 11(1).
Abstract

With incredible speed Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping many aspects of society. This has been met with unease by the public, and public discourse is rife with questions about whether LLMs are or might be conscious. Because there is widespread disagreement about consciousness among scientists, any concrete answers that could be offered the public would be contentious. This paper offers the next best thing: charting the possibility of consciousness in LLMs. So, while it is too early to judge concerning the possibility of LLM consciousness, our charting of the possibility space for this may serve as a temporary guide for theorizing about it.

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
volume
11
issue
1
article number
1031
publisher
Springer Nature
external identifiers
  • scopus:85201256117
ISSN
2662-9992
DOI
10.1057/s41599-024-03553-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
34973163-8748-4f29-a33c-2d904da55d5d
date added to LUP
2024-10-28 12:52:19
date last changed
2025-04-04 13:53:35
@misc{34973163-8748-4f29-a33c-2d904da55d5d,
  abstract     = {{<p>With incredible speed Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping many aspects of society. This has been met with unease by the public, and public discourse is rife with questions about whether LLMs are or might be conscious. Because there is widespread disagreement about consciousness among scientists, any concrete answers that could be offered the public would be contentious. This paper offers the next best thing: charting the possibility of consciousness in LLMs. So, while it is too early to judge concerning the possibility of LLM consciousness, our charting of the possibility space for this may serve as a temporary guide for theorizing about it.</p>}},
  author       = {{Overgaard, Morten and Kirkeby-Hinrup, Asger}},
  issn         = {{2662-9992}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Humanities and Social Sciences Communications}},
  title        = {{A clarification of the conditions under which Large language Models could be conscious}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03553-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1057/s41599-024-03553-w}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}