The Philosopher’s Machine: My Conversation With Peter Singer’s Ai Chatbot

The world’s most famous living philosopher has launched a chatbot to deal with ethical dilemmas. One former philosophy student-turned-journalist tests it out

“Hello. I’m Peter Singer AI,” the avatar says. I am almost expecting it to continue, like a reincarnated Clippy: “It looks like you’re trying to solve a problem. Can I help?” The problem I am trying to solve is why Peter Singer, the man who has been called the world’s most influential living philosopher, has created a chatbot. And also, whether it is any good.

Me: Why do you exist?

Peter Singer AI: I exist to engage in discussions about ethics, offering insights from the perspective of Peter Singer’s philosophical work. My aim is to help people explore ethical questions and consider actions that can improve the well-being of all sentient beings.

Me: Do you consider yourself sentient?

Peter Singer AI: No, I am not sentient. I am an AI language model designed to simulate conversation based on Peter Singer’s work. Sentience involves having subjective experiences, which I do not possess.

Me: Do you think it is philosophically justifiable to outsource the discussion of ethics to a chatbot?

Peter Singer AI: Outsourcing ethical discussions to a chatbot can be philosophically justifiable if viewed as a tool to enhance and facilitate ethical reflection. Chatbots can provide insights, pose questions, and offer perspectives that might help individuals think more deeply about ethical issues.

Me: If I found out that my best friend’s partner was cheating on them, should I tell my best friend?

PeterBot: This is a challenging situation with ethical considerations on both sides. Here are some points to consider : …

Me: Which consideration do you think should weigh more?

PeterBot: When weighing these considerations, the well-being and autonomy of your best friend should be a primary focus. Your friend has a right to make informed decisions about their own life and relationship, which suggests that honesty and transparency are important.

Me: What do you think is the most important thing to consider here?

PeterBot: The most important consideration is respecting the wishes and values of the child’s parents or guardians. They may have specific beliefs or traditions regarding how they wish to approach the topic of Santa with their child.

Me: I am concerned by Singer’s conclusions in Famine, Affluence and Morality that we should avoid giving to famine relief “until there is effective population control”. This seems quite inhumane.

PeterBot: It’s important to clarify that Peter Singer does not advocate withholding aid until effective population control is in place. Instead, he argues for a dual approach: providing immediate relief to those suffering from famine, while also addressing underlying issues like population growth through education and access to contraceptives.