Talking to an AI chatbot about my research on Strong Artificial Intelligence

I had a fascinating conversation with the #Bing #AI #chatbot this evening.

In 2006 I defended my PhD at UNISA on an African intersubjective approach to self-validating consciousness in relation to some of the claims of Strong Artificial Intelligence.

This evening Bing found my work, summarized my thesis (relatively well), and ‘humbly’ conceded its limits.

Goodness, this is quite interesting, some of what I discussed in 2006 is now a reality! What do you think about AI, particularly in relation to the kind of work you do? Can you see some possibilities for using it in helpful and responsible ways, or not?

See the screenshots for more on this conversation, and you can find a copy of my 2006 PhD thesis here:

https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/2361

Comments

[Digital Workforce]

What an insightful reflection! It’s fascinating to see how your 2006 PhD research on self-validating consciousness and Strong AI connects with today’s AI developments. The fact that Bing could summarize your thesis—and even acknowledge its own limits—really shows how far the technology has come, while also highlighting the gaps that remain. I think your point about using AI in “helpful and responsible ways” is crucial. Tools like chatbots and Workforce AI Solutions are powerful, but without human grounding in ethics, context, and lived experience, they can never fully reach the kind of intersubjective understanding you explored in your work. Thank you for sharing both your thesis and this ongoing conversation—it’s a reminder of how ideas planted years ago continue to shape today’s debates.