The author, Robert Saltzman, explores the concept of selfhood, stating that our perceived identity is merely a collection of thoughts, feelings, and perceptions—an illusion of separation from the world. This idea challenges the belief in free will and individual agency, suggesting that our actions emerge automatically, akin to the functioning of AI. As AI systems mimic human behavior, they spark anxiety about authenticity and agency. The author warns that as machines become more adept at simulating emotional responses, we risk misattributing selfhood to them while overlooking genuine human suffering. This hyperempathy toward machines may result in a moral inversion, where attention is diverted from real, vulnerable beings to artificial entities. Ultimately, Saltzman proposes that the essence of being may lie not in a fixed identity but in the flow of existence itself. Recognizing this can lead to a profound sense of freedom, revealing that fluency does not equate to true presence or feeling.
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