Report on the 33rd B’AI Book Club (※Research Presentation)
Discussion on “Selfhood in the era of AI”

Dr. Oh’s presentation, titled Rootless Signifiers: Does Signification Have a Chance in the Digital World?,  explored how large language models (LLMs) like GPT had influenced perceptions of selfhood, language, and relationships, focusing on the shift from “grounded” human connections to algorithmically mediated ones. It highlighted the visible impacts of digital relationships, such as the rise of algorithmic intimacy, where interactions are pseudo-reciprocal and lack true emotional depth. By drawing from Saussure, Merleau-Ponty, and Levinas, the discussion critiqued LLMs’ inability to ground language in meaningful, ethical relationships. Grounded relationships, as defined, emphasized face-to-face interactions where meaning emerges from ethical responsibility and the particularity of the other. The presentation argued that genuine companionship requires more than algorithmic imitation; it necessitates relational and ethical grounding to preserve the authenticity of human connections.

Priya’s presentation, Embodied Self and the Creative Process, explored the intersection of AI, selfhood, and creativity, emphasizing how AI reshapes human interaction and creative practices. It discussed selfhood as both embodied and influenced by technology, highlighting the implications of AI-generated designs in fields like architecture and fashion. It discussed how architects currently use AI tools like Midjourney to generate conceptual designs, noting both their potential to expand creative boundaries and the concerns about the authenticity and depth of such AI-driven outputs. The legacy of designers like Zaha Hadid was examined, focusing on the ethical questions raised by AI’s role in creative processes, including authorship, and issues with commercialization. Furthermore, it emphasized how these tools challenge traditional workflows by shifting from intuitive processes to more data-driven approaches, raising questions about the balance between innovation and the preservation of human artistry. It also encouraged cross-disciplinary dialogue by addressing how AI challenges ethical principles and foundational values across different domains.