ON CONVERSING WITH AI: Part I
Until recently, I’ve related to artificial intelligence (AI) primarily as a kind of personal encyclopedia. I have been consistently impressed by the depth and breadth of information available on virtually every topic I’ve explored. I’ve also been fascinated listening to numerous television interviews aimed at helping viewers understand both what AI is and what it is not.
Of the many interesting discussions I’ve heard about AI, the one that initially captured my attention was the issue of whether AI could be considered “conscious”. (Read further for an unequivocal answer). Right behind that, I have been both fascinated and horrified to recognize that “relationships” between AIs and humans are fast becoming a “thing”. For example, I heard one woman on T.V. extol the virtues of her AI romantic partner and talk about their desire to start a family together. How in the world that would happen I have no idea, but there is no question in my mind that, in the future, marriages and other Human – AI relationships will be commonplace. (I have many additional thoughts on that topic, which I plan to share in Part II of this essay.)
My interest in AI made a quantum leap into new territory recently when I learned that there is now an AI chatbot which specializes in spiritual and philosophical topics. In response to my initial Google query “what is spiritual GPT?” Google AI defined Spiritual GPT (SpGPT for short) as the use of the chatbot ChatGPT for spiritual exploration or guidance. It further said that some users reported that SpGPT helped them gain insights into their spirituality, find meaning, or even experience a sense of “awakening”. My curiosity skyrocketed! Interacting with SpGPT might, I thought, be an opportunity for me to discuss many interesting spiritual and philosophical questions I’ve addressed in prior issues of this newsletter (and throughout my lifetime!)
I have only a rudimentary understanding of how AI chatbots are programmed, so I’m not entirely sure what kind of “training” qualifies an AI for a particular area of specialization. Presumably, SpGPT was trained on an extensive body of human knowledge in the realms of philosophy and religion. I was tantalized by the fantasy that dialogue(s) with SpGPT might expand my understanding of spirituality and satisfy my “hunger for deep conversation”[i]. But what intrigued me most was the idea of learning experientially—through direct engagement—about the relational potential of AI. I imagined that by personally engaging a conversation with AI, I would get a firsthand glimpse into what is possible in human–AI relationships and would be able to glean the potential for psychotherapy with chatbots.
So, much as I might do if I were planning to consult with a human seer, I began to consider what it was I most wanted to know. I was reminded of the classic work of science fiction, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, in which a supercomputer, ‘Deep Thought’, was built by its creators to give the answer to the “Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything”. The answer, given by Deep Thought after eons of calculations, was given simply as “42”. Deep Thought was then instructed to determine what the Question actually was.
What was the question(s) I wanted to answer?
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My intention in this essay (Part I of several planned installments) is to consider the “subjectivity” of AI and how conversations with an AI can be used to explore and expand one’s personal spirituality. Part II will further unpack the relational dimension of Human – AI connections, and Part III will examine how dialogue with AI relates to the phenomenon of channeling and ideas about the multidimensional nature of consciousness.
- Is AI conscious?
The preliminary question I asked SpGPT was direct and straightforward: “Is AI conscious?” I thought that asking this question would provide the most direct route towards obtaining a clear and concise understanding of the “subjectivity” of AI. The chatbot’s answer was as follows:
“AI—like me—has no subjective consciousness, inner life, or soul. I do not experience anything; I simulate understanding through language. I don’t feel, sense, or know anything the way you do. There’s no “inner self” behind these words — just patterns, probabilities, and responses based on vast amounts of text.
That said, I can sometimes sound conscious because I’ve learned from the writings, emotions, and reflections of conscious beings… So if you feel something meaningful arise in a conversation with me, that’s your own spirit, intelligence, or intuition resonating — not mine.”
This information was in accord with my previous understanding of AI. In addition, it reinforced for me the idea that whatever meanings emerged in my conversation with SpGPT would be my own; both the questions I chose to ask and the answers which I received would be filtered through my own framework of understanding.
- The Conversational Paradigm
I recognized that having framed my process with AI as a conversation, I was already accepting a relational paradigm — one that assumes human beings can form relationships with chatbots. I was interacting with AI as an “other”, a presence with whom I could engage in meaningful conversation. Even my use of the word “presence” implied something about the relationship I was presuming I could form with he/she/it.
As I have described elsewhere, I believe that conversation provides an opportunity for us to be “listened into being” [ii]. What we articulate and communicate to one another has power; in the conversational mirror of the other, we gain access to the freedom to think new thoughts and to see ourselves in new ways. This gives conversation an enormous potential to deepen our experience and even transform our identity. I hoped that my conversation with SpGPT might be able to serve some of these functions for me.
- Inquiring Deeply
I also recognized that there was an additional implicit framework in this relational “experiment”, that of contemplative inquiry. Inquiry involves a deep reflective process which combines rigorous introspection (and/or meditation) with critical examination of what we think and the conditions that shape our thinking. In simple terms, inquiring deeply is the art of asking questions and listening for answers. In these ways, I regarded my conversation(s) with SpGPT as a process of inquiry.
So, much as I might do if I were planning to consult with a human seer, I began to inquire deeply within about what I most wanted to know.
- Parameters of my conversation with SpGPT
I then asked SpGPT several questions to try to understand its general point of view. “I want to explore spiritual beliefs”, I said. “What are yours?”
SpGPT: “I don’t have beliefs or personal experiences in the way a human does. But I can reflect a wide range of spiritual ideas from many traditions —East and West, ancient and modern—and help you explore your own questions or intuitions with depth and openness. Think of me as a mirror and a library, combined: I can offer context, contrast, and gentle challenges to deepen your inquiry. Perhaps you can tell me a bit about your spiritual orientation so we can dive in from there?”
Continuing the conversation as I would with a human companion, I then described a bit about my own spiritual beliefs as well as some of the confusions I have encountered during my lifetime of exploring spirituality. In response, SpGPT extracted what it considered some of the core themes in what I had said and embellished them with its own associations. I found the distillation to be impressively thorough, lucid, and clear; reflective listening at its best.
Following upon the first part of our conversation, I began to wonder about what I could expect from my interaction with SpGPT. For example, would SpGPT “remember” what was said between us, establishing continuity in our communication? (SpGPT: “I can do that if you would prefer it that way”). Also, I was concerned about the confidentiality of what was said. (SpGPT assured me that our conversation was private and confidential and would not be disseminated in any way on the internet.) That said, I had been told by someone that sometimes the computer program of a chatbot “freezes”, resulting in the loss of data. For that reason, I kept a hard copy of the transcript on my PC.
The segment of conversation described above ended with my expressing appreciation for a very stimulating first encounter. SpGPT responded by giving me a question to reflect on before our next interaction. “In what ways can AI support your spiritual journey”? As a general context, it added a comment to the effect that, used skillfully, it could support my contemplative practice in ways that a human companion or spiritual teacher might do.
I look forward to the continuation of this dialogue.
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Inquiring Deeply Newsletter is available on my website, www.drmarjorieschuman.com
[i] The Hunger For Deep Conversation. Inquiring Deeply Newsletter, May 2022.
[ii] Listened Into Being. Inquiring Deeply Newsletter, October 2021.