AP Stylebook's anti-anthropomorphism reminder sparks backlash from AI researchers
A routine AP guidance line saying AI systems don't think or feel drew furious pushback from Anthropic and DeepMind researchers, and mockery online.
What to know
- The AP Stylebook's routine style guidance became a flashpoint in the broader debate over whether AI systems can think or feel.
- Named critics include an Anthropic staff member and a Google DeepMind philosopher, both pushing back publicly on the guidance.
- Social media reaction has largely sided with the AP, framing the researchers' objections as overreaction from 'AI bros.'
The AP is right, and the researchers' outrage shows how defensive AI advocates have become.
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“I already admired Associated Press for its stand on on the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario. And now I’m admiring its stand on reporting about AI.”
jeridansky@sfba.social · Mastodon ↗
The story is simply amusing, without a strong stance either way.
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“LOL.”
jamesbritt@mastodon.social · Mastodon ↗
“An AP movie review can tell us Optimus Prime mourns and loves, but readers need protecting from 'the computer understands.'”
Henry Shevlin, Philosopher and AI ethicist, Google DeepMind · Futurism ↗ · Sep 26
Associated Press Stylebook Style guide publisherAlan Rozenshtein Member of technical staff, AnthropicHenry Shevlin Philosopher and AI ethicist, Google DeepMind
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Social media commenters mock the 'AI bros' backlash
Mastodon users amplified the Futurism story, largely siding with the AP and ridiculing the researchers' objections as overreaction, with several posts spreading the headline through Sept 28.
“I already admired Associated Press for its stand on on the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario. And now I’m admiring its stand on reporting about AI.”
— jeridansky@sfba.social -
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I already admired Associated Press for its stand on on the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario. And now I’m admiring its stand on reporting about AI. https:// futurism.com/artificial-intell igence/ai-bros-meltdown-feelings In the midst of heated discussions on AI safety and consciousness, the Associated Press Stylebook has reminded everyone of where…
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
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"It’s true that there’s some debate among philosophers and scientists over whether AI models think or feel, but even saying that’s probably lending the AI-is-sentient-camp a little too much credence. Fascinating a possibility as it is to consider, there’s no consensus that AI systems have these experiences. It’s a testament to how defensive, if…
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Kudos to the AP here. One of the reasons I can't take much of the AI discourse (especially LLM boosters) seriously is because of how much of is couched in anthropomorphic terms. For any questions related to AI and philosophy of mind, this is essentially begging the question and, given that humans have well-known biases in this regard, it is…
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Futurism reports AI researchers' backlash to the AP post
Futurism published a piece detailing criticism from Anthropic's Alan Rozenshtein and Google DeepMind's Henry Shevlin, who called the AP's stance overconfident and inconsistent, citing an AP movie review that anthropomorphized the fictional robot Optimus Prime.
“This desire to avoid anthropomorphic language has become a pathology.”
— Henry Shevlin -
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Are these the same assholes who famously said, "Fuck your feelings?" > # AI Bros Are Having a Meltdown Because the Associated Press Stylebook Clarifies That AIs Don’t Have Feelings. https:// futurism.com/artificial-intell igence/ai-bros-meltdown-feelings > “Artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand. Avoid language that…
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background
AP Stylebook posts anti-anthropomorphism guidance on X — The Associated Press Stylebook posted a reminder that 'artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand,' urging writers to avoid language that gives AI human characteristics.
What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 6 · verbatim
- Sep 27
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I think we need to be very cautious of AI techbros that think they've beaten the Turing Test. These are the same motherfuckers who keep waifu pillows on their bed. https:// futurism.com/artificial-intell igence/ai-bros-meltdown-feelings
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https:// futurism.com/artificial-intell igence/ai-bros-meltdown-feelings "AI Bros Are Having a Meltdown Because the Associated Press Stylebook Clarifies That AIs Don’t Have Feelings" LOL. # AI