We Are Required to Re-Think the World of AI

Abstract

Aim/Purpose “Re-thinking the world of AI” necessarily requires understanding the motivations and core values that shape human thought, including the impulse to create artificial intelligence. This interdisciplinary philosophical discussion paper outlines key conceptual foundations for identifying authentic human identity (AHI) and clarifies the relationship between AI and AHI (especially their common digital foundation) beyond questions of technological efficiency. Its aim is not to claim novelty, but to contribute to—and amplify—a needed philosophically grounded conversation concerning the challenges posed by AI. Background Artificial intelligence (AI) and authentic human identity (AHI) may ultimately converge, given the increasingly evident digital foundations of both—a concern expressed by prominent AI developers. If individuals internalize and consistently enact their core values, they strengthen the affirmation of individuality and may better set themselves apart from AI-based replication or imitation. Such resilience, however, presupposes self-knowledge: a person must first know who they are. Methodology Because this is a philosophically grounded discussion paper, it does not employ an empirical research design or laboratory-based methodology. Instead, it develops a conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between AI and authentic human identity (AHI). The paper draws on informing science, systems thinking, and philosophical inquiry, and proposes an identity-probe approach grounded in values–behavior consistency (the internalization and lived expression of core values). Contribution This discussion paper presents a philosophical framework for exploring the relationship between authentic human identity (AHI) and artificial intelligence. It offers a multifaceted interdisciplinary account of authenticity, integrating perspectives from the physical sciences, mathematics, and psychology. Although not developed here, the case study methods complement this conceptual framework and may be used for validation. Findings This paper does not report empirical or laboratory-based findings. Instead, it proposes a conceptual structure for framing discussion of the human relationship to AI, grounded in the lived expression of core values. The framework integrates both reductionistic and wholistic methods. Reductionistic inquiry is represented through contemporary research on neurocorrelates of behavior, genetics, molecular psychiatry, and neurogeometry. Wholistic (my preferred spelling) inquiry is represented through phenomenology and related philosophical approaches concerned with lived experience and meaning-making. Mathematics functions as a bridge between these domains, supporting the possibility of digitizing aspects of cognition, as suggested by Piaget’s developmental work and by reductionistic models of biological structure. The analysis highlights a central unresolved barrier: the absence of a clear account of what consciousness is. Nevertheless, the paper argues that practical imitation may bypass this barrier by relying on belief and perceived equivalence rather than authentic internalization. This possibility strengthens the need for self-knowledge grounded in values–behavior consistency, rather than reliance on self-report alone. Recommendations for Practitioners For practitioners engaged in identity assessment, a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach is recommended. Diagnostic and interpretive outcomes should integrate biological and chemical foundations with psychological and philosophical accounts, employing both reductionistic and wholistic methods. Such breadth is necessary to avoid overly narrow interpretations of identity and to support more robust assessments of authenticity. Recommendations for Researchers For researchers, the study of authentic human identity as a values-based construct requires sustained engagement with philosophy and its core areas of study, including logic, ontology, philosophy of mind, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology. Accordingly, philosophy should be more fully integrated into curricula at all educational levels, from primary instruction through post-graduate education and training, to support deeper inquiry into identity, meaning, and the human implications of AI. Impact on Society AI developers have increasingly warned that advanced AI systems may displace or dominate human agency. However, the risk may be mitigated—if not partially forestalled—when individuals possess clear self-knowledge grounded in authentic values. Such awareness strengthens human autonomy and may help ensure that AI remains an auxiliary tool rather than becoming a governing influence over human thought and action. Future Research Future research should focus on refining and extending current knowledge relevant to authentic human identity, particularly regarding consciousness, and on establishing the predictive validity of proposed identity frameworks. In particular, the case method should be applied to the datasets generated by the Authentic Systems identity probe as an initial step toward systematic validation and longitudinal predictive study.