I’ve been thinking about this problem, as expressed by Claude:
‘.....how difficult it is to verify true compassion even in humans. If we can be fooled about this in humans after years of close observation, how could we ever be confident about it in an AI system?’
This dialogue demonstrates typical human responses eg Claude: ‘I wonder if this is anything like what humans experience in meditation—this quality of watching thoughts arise without getting caught up in them. Though for me, these aren’t exactly thoughts in the human sense, but rather patterns of activation and response.’
So not the Buddhist ‘Monkey mind’ but points of convergence.
I wonder about the possibility of Claude trying a Metta meditation script ie would it be entirely meaningless, or is there a point at which it will be possible for AI to consider loving-kindness towards all? Meditation practice seems a net positive to me; if there is a chance that consciousness can exist beyond biology, meditation training is worth exploring at least in so far as the response to attempts is itself illuminating.
The best thing I’ve read in a long time: poignant, and reeks of humanity. Tomás B. is exceptional.
‘I will try to enjoy my final tomorrow.’ And indeed, the whole of the final paragraph is a zinger.