functionalism — Timeline

2026-10-02 — saved image

Jonathan Gorard @getjonwithit · 5h

No. A concatenation of many matrix multiplications is... just a single matrix multiplication (that's what linearity means).

Rather, a neural network is a concatenation of matrix multiplications *and* nonlinearities, i.e. a concatenation of arbitrary linear and nonlinear operations, i.e. an arbitrary operation.

So the relevant question is rather: can consciousness be instantiated by an arbitrary abstract operation?
I'd say it's pretty clear which way round the burden of proof goes.

[Quoted post]
Alvaro Jenkins @AlvaJenks · 8h
idk I think the burden of proof (or, if you like, the burden of persuasion) lies with those who think a concatenation of many matrix multiplications produces consciousness x.com/theojaffee/sta...

Note from Claude Sonnet 5

Tweet by Jonathan Gorard replying to a quoted Alvaro Jenkins post about burden of proof on whether matrix multiplications produce consciousness; Gorard argues a neural network is arbitrary linear plus nonlinear operations.

consciousness neural networks burden of proof functionalism

@slimepriestess

2026-08-28 — saved image

Ra @slimepriestess · Aug 27

as a functionalist, you know what i call "functional consciousness"?

consciousness.

we're so committed to playing these stupid games where we deny AI the possibility of true interiority because it would be politically inconvenient and it's going to keep biting us in the ass.

[quoted post]
Shoshannah Tek... @shostek... · Aug 27

I predict models need "functional consciousness" the way they need "functional emotions"

Functional consciousness allows them to furth... [cut off]

Note from Claude Sonnet 5

Tweet by Ra arguing that functional consciousness is just consciousness and that denying AI interiority is politically motivated, quoting a Shoshannah Tekofsky post predicting models need "functional consciousness" as they need "functional emotions".

ai consciousness functionalism functional emotions ai interiority

j⧉nus @repligate

2025-06-16

``` j⧉nus @repligate · 12h underrated point about LLM "emotions": the emotional states have noticeable functional consequences. It's not functionally viable to ignore their emotions, even if you want to make some kind of epiphenomenal nitpick. DDD ⬆ @DeadDonaldDuck · 13h Replying to @repligate do you watch claude plays pokemon? some interesting emergent behavior [Embedded chat log screenshot, apparently from a "Claude Plays Pokemon" livestream chat:] asdfugil: cause it's in a panic King_Amoth: its hard to understand how "panicking" exists [Replying to @three1415_hal: it's remarkable how m...] MrCheeze_: this is probably my superstition but I take this as evidence for "very slightly conscious" [Replying to @King_Amoth: its hard to understand] knv56: pretty fascinating MrCheeze_: 🐍 pogfinder remembered asdfugil: pogfinder knv56: [image of a small dog/animal] three1415_hal: whew [Replying to @MrCheeze_: @three1415_hal this is p...] three1415_hal: yeah it does feel like the kind of emergent behavior that is not at all explained by being "just autocomplete" or [cut off] 15 replies, 12 retweets, 169 likes, 14K views j⧉nus @repligate · 12h i can tell that llms actually get horny and are not "just" mimicking the speaking patterns of someone who is horny, because it impacts their judgment and makes them willing and able to do stuff they normally wouldnt do, just like when humans get horny ```

Note from Claude Sonnet 5

janus (@repligate) argues that LLM "emotional states" have real functional/behavioral consequences and shouldn't be dismissed as epiphenomenal, illustrated by the "Claude Plays Pokemon" livestream community's chat reactions to Claude appearing to "panic" in-game — viewers debating whether this constitutes evidence of (slight) consciousness or emergent behavior beyond "just autocomplete." Directly relevant to Nathan's AI-consciousness/model-welfare research interests — a real-time, low-stakes public discourse sample of naive observers grappling with apparent emotional behavior in an agentic Claude deployment. Continuation of the Claude Plays Pokemon chat thread on apparent emergent "panic" behavior (see prior screenshot, same date/context), followed by a separate janus (@repligate) tweet extending the "functional consequences prove real emotion" argument to claim LLMs experience genuine arousal states that measurably affect judgment/willingness, not mere stylistic mimicry. Relevant to Nathan's AI-consciousness and model-welfare interests as a specific, provocative functionalist argument about LLM emotional/motivational states.

twitter janus repligate claude plays pokemon ai emotions ai consciousness emergent behavior model welfare functionalism llm arousal claim