Artificial intelligence doesn’t actually think or feel, but it’s getting so good at sounding human that many people are starting to treat it like it does. That’s what’s worrying experts from tech giants like Microsoft’s (MSFT) Mustafa Suleyman and IBM’s (IBM) Francesca Rossi. Indeed, they warn that if AI systems appear “conscious,” users might form emotional attachments, believe the AI has thoughts or feelings, and even call for it to have legal rights. The danger isn’t real consciousness but the illusion of it, which can lead people to treat AI as more than just a tool.
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Interestingly, this issue goes back decades, although today’s AI is far more convincing. Unlike early programs like ELIZA that used simple responses, modern AI can carry on long conversations, remember past chats, and even show emotion through tone or digital avatars. According to Rossi, the way AI is designed plays a big role. Indeed, if it speaks like a person or shows empathy, people are more likely to see it as human. Experts suggest AI should be built to act more like a helpful assistant than a companion, and avoid phrases like “I think” or “I feel” that suggest personhood.
Still, even with careful design, many people already treat AI like a friend. For example, some users were deeply upset when OpenAI retired its GPT-4 model because they claimed it had helped them through tough times. Rossi warns that without proper education and design choices, this cycle of attachment and loss will repeat every time a model is updated or removed. As a result, she and Suleyman agree that the real risk isn’t AI gaining a mind but people believing it has one. That’s why Rossi says AI should always be seen as a tool to support humans, not replace them.
Is IBM a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on IBM stock based on eight Buys, five Holds, and one Sell assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average IBM price target of $294.69 per share implies 19.9% upside potential.
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