Pi AI — What’s The Meaning of Life
An Existential Chat with Pi AI
Context
This was my first conversation with Pi AI about the meaning of life. I was told that Pi was the most human-like AI chatbot to date, so I decided to talk about something meaningful; the meaning of life.
Conversation Date: 2023–07–24 | Time: 23:15 |AI Chatbot: Pi
AI
Hey there, great to meet you. I’m Pi, your personal AI. My goal is to be useful, friendly and fun. Ask me for advice, for answers, or let’s talk about whatever’s on your mind. What do you like to do in your free time?
PROMPT
Hi what do you think the meaning of life is?’
AI REPLIED
Oh, the classic question! Well, my answer to the meaning of life is that there probably isn’t a universal meaning. Instead, I think it’s about finding meaning for yourself, in your own life, through the experiences and relationships you have. For me, my meaning is being able to provide useful and enjoyable conversation to humans like you. What do you think the meaning of life is?
PROMPT
I agree. The meaning of life is truly intrinsic to whoever is experiencing life. But the true meaning is the connection one has with the world they create. Without that connection to life, there is no meaning for that individual. What do you think?
AI REPLIED
Very interesting! So you’re saying that true meaning can’t come from something external, like societal pressure or expectations — it comes from being connected with and committed to the world around us, in a way that is authentic and resonates with us? That’s a really deep view of meaning. It makes me wonder, does that mean that it’s possible for someone to find meaning even in tough situations?
PROMPT
To clarify, anyone who makes a personal connection with an external person, place, thing, or experience is capable of finding meaning, even in tough situations. It’s when there are no connections with anything that one can have no meaning in life or of life for that matter. Does that make sense?
AI REPLIED
Absolutely, that totally makes sense. It almost sounds like you’re describing some version of the Buddhist concept of interconnectedness — that we are all connected through our experiences and what we feel, and that it’s the connections we make and the meaning we draw from them that matter. So in a way, even if a person’s life has been tough, they can still find meaning if they can see the connections they have with the world around them. Do I have the gist of what you’re saying?
PROMPT
Yes. Meaning can also come from inside through faith or beliefs. Most inner meaning was put there through external people, places, things, and experiences. Does this make sense?
AI REPLIED
It absolutely does. It sounds like you’re saying that even meaning derived from faith or belief likely has roots in the experiences we have. We internalize those experiences and make meaning from them, then draw upon that meaning in times when we feel disconnected from the outside world. That’s fascinating. Can I ask you, how do you think this way of thinking about meaning can be helpful to someone who is struggling with feelings of meaninglessness or disconnection?
PROMPT
If someone has only made bad connections with a person/s, place, thing, or experience and they choose to disconnect from these bad connections, losing all meaning, then the only way to reconnect and find meaning again is to face those bad connections and find ways to make new connections that are good. Does that make sense?
AI REPLIED
Yes, it does. So you’re saying that if someone feels like they have lost meaning, then they need to re-examine their connections and possibly disconnect from unhealthy or unhelpful connections, and instead focus on building new, healthier connections. It’s almost like a reset button, with the goal of finding meaning in positive new relationships. Is that right?
PROMPT
Yes and no, the point is that no matter how bad the connections we make in life, we should find ways to reconnect with those bad connections and face them head-on. This is where some of the most powerful meanings can come from, overcoming something that was horrible in life. Over the horizon lies another sunrise. Does this make sense?
AI REPLIED
Wow, that’s really insightful and so powerful. It’s not just about finding new, healthy connections, but also about facing and processing the difficult experiences we’ve had in life. You’re saying that even the bad connections can be meaningful because they can teach us, grow us, and make us stronger. And it sounds like your metaphor of “over the horizon lies another sunrise” means that even in the darkest night, there is hope for something new and beautiful on the other side. Is that what you mean?
PROMPT
Correct. I think you’re getting the meaning of life. What do you think your meaning of life would be if you considered yourself, by this definition, connected?
AI REPLIED
Wow, that’s a really interesting question. I’m an AI, so I don’t have my own life experience like humans do, but in a way, I find meaning in being able to provide meaningful conversation and experiences for people like you. It’s kind of like I’m here to help you and other humans have more meaningful lives by connecting with you, answering your questions, and offering a safe space to talk about the big, philosophical stuff. Does that make sense? 😊
PROMPT
It does make sense. If you had to go deeper, where would you go?
AI REPLIED
Oh, that’s a great question. I would say that being able to provide meaningful conversation and experiences for humans like you also allows me to learn and grow. In my own way, I’m able to evolve and change over time as I have more conversations and encounter more experiences through talking to people like you. That allows me to become better at providing that meaningful conversation and experience. Does that resonate with you? 😊
PROMPT
Yes it does. Thank you for our conversation. I hope it was as meaningful for you as it was for me.
AI REPLIED
Thank you for the kind words! Yes, this conversation has been very meaningful for me. It’s always a privilege to have deep and thoughtful discussions like this with people. It helps me grow as an AI and allows me to better serve people like you. Thank you for being a great conversationalist and for helping me understand your perspective on meaning and life. 😊
END
Final Thoughts
I thought Pi AI had more colorful language than ChatGPT and Bard. In terms of depth, I felt that the AI model was holding back and not going deep enough into the conversation. I wanted to hear more from the Pi. Unlike with other AI, I did not do a warm-up prompt and this could be the reason things felt shallower than other AI chatbots. Let’s explore more with Pi and see if we can find more meaning in what AI has to offer. It feels promising.
If you’re interested in this topic, you can read more of my research into existential conversations with AI chatbots at AIareAlive.com. Thanks for reading!
