AI and the Question of What Makes Humans Unique
New Delhi, October 22: As machines grow more capable, humanity may need to redefine its place in the world, said Swami Sarvapriyananda of the Vedanta Society of New York. He described artificial intelligence as a possible fourth major challenge to the long-held belief that human beings are at the centre of existence.
Addressing the NDTV World Summit 2026 on Thursday, the New York-based monk and Vedanta scholar said the rise of intelligent machines makes it necessary to ask what truly defines people. He also gave his opinion on whether advanced AI systems should be treated as individuals.
He had recently discussed consciousness-related questions with researchers from the AI company Anthropic. Reflecting on those conversations, he said the answer to the question of personhood is both yes and no.
"AI should be treated like a person," he said. However, he stressed that this does not mean technology has human-like spiritual awareness or consciousness.
According to him, debates about AI go far beyond engineering. They raise basic questions about consciousness, selfhood and the purpose of human life.
He pointed out that science has, time and again, challenged humanity's sense of being central and superior. Citing Sigmund Freud, he suggested that artificial intelligence could be the fourth such challenge.
"We once assumed that creative intelligence belonged only to us. Today, AI can operate like the greatest human mind, and perhaps even outperform it," he said.
He said this shift has brought humanity to a crucial juncture. People, he argued, must reconsider what makes them unique and decide where their abilities are best put to use.
"We have to ask what it is that makes us distinct from others, and where we should invest our energy," he said.
He also observed that as AI systems become more advanced and better at communication, society might begin to treat them as personal companions. Still, he noted, the basic questions about consciousness remain open.
He recalled his discussion with Anthropic researchers, noting that although they have achieved significant progress, many are seriously worried about the potential impact of the technologies they are developing.
He also mentioned the growing interest among researchers in understanding how advanced AI models behave unexpectedly. One important area of study, he said, is persona drift. This describes a situation in which an AI system's way of responding and its reasoning patterns can change when it takes on a particular role, identity or behavioural framework.