Everyday Philosophy: ChatGPT and the rise of the machines

“John Locke noted in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689) that if we encountered a parrot that was capable of rational dialogue with us, we wouldn’t immediately leap to the conclusion that the parrot was a human being (“man” in Locke’s terminology). He thought we would rather assume we were dealing with a very intelligent, rational parrot. But now we should realise Locke went too far. Today we have the technology to produce machines that plausibly fake rational communication. But that doesn’t make them rational, nor mean that we should leap to the conclusion we are dealing with intelligent beings that just don’t happen to be human. These are sophisticated programs designed to mimic more-or-less-rational, more-or-less-intelligent beings. Don’t be taken in.”

Everyday Philosophy: ChatGPT and the rise of the machines
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/everyday-philosophy-chatgpt/
via Instapaper