Advances in the performance of large language models (LLMs) have led some researchers to propose the emergence of theory of mind (ToM) in artificial intelligence (AI). LLMs can attribute beliefs, desires, intentions, and emotions. But, rather than employing the characteristically human method of empathy, they learn to attribute mental states by recognizing behavioral and linguistic patterns in a dataset. We ask whether LLMs’ inability to empathize precludes them from honoring an individual’s right to be an exception, from assessing character with appropriate sensitivity to a person’s individuality. We defend the following claims: (1) Both humans and LLMs can honor the right to be an exception. (2) Humans can honor that right through empathy, and LLMs cannot empathize. (3) There is distinctive moral value in honoring the right to be an exception through empathy.
Will Kidder, Jason D’Cruz, Kush R. Varshney· Cambridge University Press e...· 0 citations
As artificial intelligence chatbots offer increasingly sophisticated emotional support, society faces a profound question: can a machine truly empathize? Empathy and Artificial Intelligence provides the first comprehensive roadmap for this pivotal moment. Moving beyond simple binaries of 'hype' or 'doom,' this interdisciplinary volume unites leading psychologists, philosophers, and engineers to explore the tangled web of synthetic care. Key chapters investigate the 'AI Advantage' – where machines often outperform humans in perceived empathy – alongside the 'AI Penalty,' where discovering the artifice corrodes trust. The text navigates the distinct landscapes of text-based LLMs and embodied robots, addressing urgent ethical dilemmas and exploring whether reliance on AI risks the atrophy of our moral capacities or enables synthetic agents to scaffold stronger human relationships. Essential for researchers, students, and curious observers, this book investigates whether outsourcing our emotional labor saves us time, or costs us our humanity.
C. Daryl Cameron, Anat Perry, Shai Satran et al.· Cambridge University Press e...· 0 citations
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