Since Open AI made ChatGPT publi cly available in late 2022\, the ability of Artificial Intelligence to have meaningful conversations—therapeutic conversations included—or to deliver scripts\, academic essays\, and pop songs on demand (not to mention deepfak es) has been understood as an attack on human identity. Machines now have c reative abilities that humans thought were reserved for themselves. Thus\, in addition to the three great insults to humankind\, there is a fourth: if human beings are no longer the center of the universe since Copernicus\, n o longer in God’s image since Darwin\, and no longer the masters of their i nstincts since Freud\, today conversational agents are also contesting that talent which\, since Aristotle’s canonical definition of human beings (Pol itics 1253 a)\, was undisputedly regarded as their unique selling point: la nguage\, or at least a linguistic performance that simulates language. The scenario of artificial speech\, fictionalized again and again since the aut omaton enthusiasm of the 18th century\, has become reality.
If ChatGP T speaks\, then writing speaks itself. For on the one hand\, conversational agents draw on archival data put down in writing\, on the other hand\, the mathematical calculus of the conversational agents’ algorithms presupposes the space of writing. Seen in this light\, the linguistic phonē o f ChatGPT is an epiphenomenon of the graphē of data and calculi in a similar sense to how Derrida in his Grammatology called “writin g itself the origin of language.” This uncannily inverts the Pauline topos of the “letter that kills” and the “spirit” inherent in the voice that “mak es alive” (2 Cor 3:6). In other words\, ChatGPT gives credence to the reaso n why Plato’s Pharaoh Thamus rejected the writing offered to him by the god Theut (Phaidros 274c-275b).
Dr. Stefan Börnchen\, Research Scientist for Humanities and Digitalization at the University of Luxembourg. Monogra phs: Kryptenhall. Allegorien von Schrift\, Stimme und Musik in Thomas M anns “Doktor Faustus” (2006)\; Poetik der Linie. Wilhelm Busch\, < /em>Max und Moritz und die Tradition (2015)\; “Alles ist eins. ” Romantische Metaphorologie des Mediums (2021)\, Stalingrad an de r Elbe. Kälte\, Krieg und Unbehaustheit in Dörte Hansens Roman Altes L and (2022).
How to Attend:
Join us in Buchanan Tower in room 997\, or attend virtually
Discussion and Moderation:
Dr. Geoffrey W inthrop-Young\, UBC
Agenda:
12:15: Coffee\, refreshments
12:30: Welcome and introduction by event or ganizer\, Gaby Pailer (UBC)
12:35: Guest Lecture by Stefan Börnchen (University of Luxemb ourg)
13:00 - 13:15: Discussion with Geoffrey Winthrop-Young (UBC)
13:15 - 13:45: Open Floor Discussion
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