Erik Hoel: LLMs Aren't Conscious, and Believing They Are Is Culturally Dangerous

The Intrinsic Perspective / Hacker News·low signal

Neuroscientist Erik Hoel argues in The Intrinsic Perspective that attributing consciousness to LLMs is both scientifically unfounded and culturally hazardous, warning against 'dethroning' human consciousness as models grow more persuasive. The essay drew a focused HN discussion on the philosophy and second-order social effects of AI anthropomorphization as agents become daily companions.