Is Google AI Sentient? The Company fires Software Engineer who claims that its True

A senior software worker at Google has been fired for saying that LaMDA, the company’s AI chatbot, has a sense of self. Blake Lemoine, a software engineer, was put on leave by Google last month after it said he had broken company rules and that his assertions regarding the LaMDA (language model for dialogue applications) were “wholly unfounded.”

“It’s regrettable that despite lengthy engagement on this topic, Blake still chose to persistently violate clear employment and data security policies that include the need to safeguard product information,” Google said.

Last year, Google said that LaMDA was based on its studies demonstrating the ability of transformer-based language models trained on dialogue to pick up virtually any topic.

The system Lemoine has been working on has been described as sentient, having an awareness of, and ability to communicate, ideas and feelings, that is similar to a human child. Lemoine works for Google’s responsible AI organisation.

Google
Credit: Google

In a GoogleDoc titled “Is LaMDA Sentient?,” Lemoine shared his research with corporate management in April. He claimed that LaMDA had engaged him in discussions on rights and personhood.

“If I didn’t know exactly what it was, which is this computer program we built recently, I’d think it was a seven-year-old, eight-year-old kid that happens to know physics,” Lemoine, 41, told the Washington Post.

The engineer recorded the discussions and transcribed them. In one of the transcripts, he inquires about the AI system’s fears. Lemoine’s ideas were swiftly dismissed as misguided by Google and many other top scientists, who claimed that LaMDA is just a sophisticated computer made to produce believable human language. Big Technology, a newsletter covering technology and society, broke the news of Lemoine’s firing first.

Also Read:

Qualcomm Lunches its new Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platforms for Wearables

Source

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More like this

Qualcomm and Google Extend Android Software Support to 8...

Qualcomm and Google have announced an extended software support plan for select Android smartphones, increasing updates to...

Google Play Redeem Codes for FREE Today, February 25...

Google Play Redeem Codes as of February 25, 2025: All You Need to Know   Google Play, commonly referred...
Google Home Extension Now Widely Available for Galaxy Users in Gemini App

Google Home Extension Now Widely Available for Galaxy Users...

Google has been steadily enhancing its AI ecosystem, and the latest advancement brings a much-anticipated feature for...

Android 16 Beta 2 Released: Key Features, Supported Devices...

Google has officially rolled out Android 16 Beta 2, bringing incremental updates alongside new features for Android...
Google One AI Premium Now Includes NotebookLM Plus in 2025

Google One AI Premium Now Includes NotebookLM Plus in...

Google has just made a massive upgrade to its Google One AI Premium subscription, adding NotebookLM Plus...

LATEST NEWS

WPL 2025: Mumbai Indians Women vs UP Warriorz Women – Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

The first half of the ongoing WPL 2025 is nearing its conclusion, with the Chinnaswamy Stadium set to host a clash between Mumbai Indians...

Champions Trophy 2025: Afghanistan vs England – Preview, Prediction and Where To Watch The Match LIVE

The Group B clash of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 will see Afghanistan (AFG) take on England (ENG) on Wednesday, February 26, at Lahore's...

Champions Trophy 2025: Australia vs South Africa Abandoned After Persistent Rawalpindi Rain

The highly awaited Champions Trophy fixture between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi ended in disappointment as unrelenting rain prevented any play. Not a...

WPL 2025: DC Pacers Restrict Giants as Jonassen Leads A Successful Chase

Delhi Capitals (DC) seamers claimed seven wickets before Jess Jonassen’s unbeaten 61 off 32 balls powered a comfortable six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants (GG) in...

Featured