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Techno-Existential Communication and ChatGPT

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Abstract

ChatGPT creates a new communication situation. Today, to communicate, we do not need another human being anymore. We can communicate directly with technology. This situation never existed before, creating new existential challenges that require new philosophical vocabulary. With this in mind, I am introducing the term techno-existential communication. To develop this term, I will rely on the philosophy of Karl Jaspers, who was one of the founders of the existential way of thinking in the 20th century. The notion of techno-existential communication extends Karl Jaspers’s term ‘existential communication’. In his philosophy, Jaspers didn’t consider technology as a possible participant in communication. However, today’s generative AI models, such as ChatGPT and Bart, can be interlocutors in almost any conversation. But is it possible to have an existential communication with this technology? I claim that such an existential conversation with technology is possible, and soon, we will communicate with AI as much as with humans. However, to understand the existential implications of this communication, we should reframe the notion of existential communication.
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 reections 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 satised with our mode of being
because something signicant 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 supercial 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
persons 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 dierent,
and so they have dierent
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
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Thank you for your attention
Contact info: dmytro.mykhailov@sjtu.edu.cn
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