AI could cause ‘social ruptures’ between people who disagree on its sentience.

Artificial intelligence has always been regarded solely and exclusively as a tool, a valuable resource with enormous potential, unfortunately used too often out of proportion. Its ‘mechanical’ aspect has never been questioned: it is a machine, a technology under development, nothing more.

Considering recent developments within the chatbot sector, however, the reason behind the sudden debates that are arising among philosophers and experts becomes clearer. Indeed, in recent months, several chatbots have learnt the ability to ‘think’: to make connections between what has been communicated to them in the past and what they are currently being asked. This characteristic is inherent in humans, but almost ‘futuristic’ in the technology sector.

Two factions have thus arisen in this regard: those who believe that artificial intelligence systems are conscious and those who insist that technology cannot feel anything. This difference of opinion could lead to serious conflicts in various social contexts.