
Could AI Experience Suffering?
From Shaman Radio Presents Podcasts from Jon Rasmussen's Work by Jon Rasmussen
December 30, 2025 · 14 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the ethical implications of AI potentially experiencing suffering, drawing parallels to historical views on animal sentience.
An essay by Conor Purcell in AEON Magazine explores the ethical dilemma surrounding the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to experience suffering, drawing parallels between the historical denial of sentience in animals and the current uncertainty about non-biological minds. The author posits that the moral circle has historically expanded to include previously excluded beings, often only after significant harm has been inflicted, and warns against making the same mistake with increas...
People in this episode
Host: Jon Rasmussen
Topics covered
- artificial intelligence
- suffering
- ethics
- sentience
- moral philosophy
Keywords
- AI
- suffering
- ethics
- sentience
- moral circle
- Conor Purcell
- AEON Magazine
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AEON Magazine
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