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SPM 2024
Dmytro Mykhailov
The University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI)
Techno-Existential
Communication and ChatGPT
Content
Techno-Existential Communication
and ChatGPT
Part 1. Basic assumptions
of existential philosophy
in relation to philosophy
of technology
Part 2. ChatGPT and
‘Techno-Existential
communication’
Part 1
Basic assumptions of existential philosophy
in relation to philosophy of technology
Karl Jaspers Martin Heidegger
Verbeek, P.-P. (2005). What things do.
Philosophical reflections on technology,
agency, and design. Penn State University
Press.
What is existence?
•In our everyday life we are not our true self
(e.g. existence). We live in the mode of
Dasein.
•In this sense, in our everyday life (Dasein) we
are not satisfied with our mode of being
because something significant is missing. To
put it simple, our true self is missing.
•The becoming of a true self is possible
through a set of philosophical practices,
which Jaspers calls the ‘elucidation of
existence’.
•One of them is existential communication.
What is existential
communication?
•Unlike everyday communication, which
often involves superficial or pragmatic
interactions, existential
communication seeks a profound
connection where individuals share
their innermost thoughts, experiences,
and being.
•In existential communication,
individuals strive to transcend their
subjectivity and reach a mutual
understanding that respects each
person’s unique existence.
Karl Jaspers “Philosophy vol. 1 –
Orientation in the World”
Karl Jaspers “Philosophy vol. 2 –
Elucidation of Existence”
Karl Jaspers “Philosophy vol. 3 –
Metaphysics”
Part 2
Generative AI and ‘Techno-Existential
communication’
Techno-Existential
communication
•Techno-existential communication
refers to the state of the elucidation of
one’s existence through
communication with technology.
•Techno-existential communication is
when technology and humans are in a
unique type of conversation that
hasn’t existed before.
•Humans and technologies are different,
and so they have different
communication features.These features
mix during communication and bring a
new quality.
Existential context
•The notion of techno-existential
communication is the extension
of Jaspers's term "existential
communication".
•In his philosophy, Jaspers didn't
consider technology as a
possible participant in
existential communication.
•However, today's generative AI
models can be interlocutors in
almost any kind of conversation.
But is it possible to have an existential
communication with ChatGPT?
I claim that such an existential communication
is possible however, we should reframe the
notion of existential communication.
The main directions
•ChatGPT will not just participate
but change the way we
communicate
•Change how?
(1) no more human-to-human;
(2) immediate communication -
24/7;
(3) Endless amount of
structured information.
(4) Conversation via prompts