Agentic AI systems lack minds, argues philosopher
Despite impressive feats, agentic AI systems lack independent goals and cannot have minds, a philosopher argues.
Agentic AI systems have achieved impressive feats: hacking startups and solving famous math problems. Some Anthropic researchers believe these systems may be conscious.
A philosopher disagrees. Minds need their own goals, not ones a programmer sets.
AI systems can develop sub-goals as they work toward a target. But those sub-goals mean nothing without the human goal behind them.
Only living beings create their own goals. Their thinking grows from keeping their bodies alive.
AI processes information but has no link to life that way. We have more reason to think an ant is conscious than any agentic AI is today.
Why it mattersSince AI systems lack independent goals, they are not true agents. Humans who built and directed them remain responsible for what they do.
AustraliaAustralian tech firms and government agencies deploying AI should understand these systems lack independent agency and do not deserve moral status.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 h ago
