I Asked ChatGPT, Meta AI & Grok: How Will AI Change Human Identity, Purpose and Meaning?

In the latest episode of Chat With Sean, I chatted with Gia Villondo to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of work, product development, and society at large.

Ahead of our conversation, I posed a series of big-picture, philosophical questions to ChatGPT, Meta AI, and Grok to gather a cross-section of perspectives on AI’s potential future impact.

The answers were interesting, raising ideas about how AI might redefine what it means to be human - our identity, purpose, intelligence, and morality.

(Answers combined from ChatGPT, Meta AI & Grok)

How do you think AI will reshape human identity, purpose, or meaning in the next 50 years?

AI will profoundly reshape human identity, purpose, and meaning in the coming decades, potentially liberating us by automating routine tasks and enabling a focus on creativity, emotional intelligence, and personal fulfilment, while also posing existential challenges. As traditional work roles fade, new forms of self-expression, collaboration, and exploration could emerge, but AI's influence might also lead to crises of meaning, social isolation, and inequality, especially if access and control are uneven. Ultimately, the trajectory of AI's impact will hinge on how we balance its potential to amplify human potential with the risks of losing touch with what it means to be human.

What aspects of human experience or consciousness are fundamentally out of reach for AI — and could that ever change?

AI can simulate human-like responses, but it currently lacks true subjective experience, emotional depth, embodiment, and moral agency—core aspects of consciousness that may never be fully replicable, depending on whether consciousness is purely computational or something more.

What does a successful partnership between humanity and AI actually look like — socially, ethically, and economically?

A successful long-term partnership between humans and AI means using AI to amplify human creativity, connection, and economic opportunity—while ensuring ethical oversight, equitable access, and that humans remain in control of decisions that shape our lives and societies.

What moral frameworks do you think AI should be taught to adopt — and who decides?

Teaching AI moral frameworks requires a pluralistic, context-aware approach rooted in human well-being, fairness, and transparency—shaped not by any single power, but through inclusive, global collaboration that evolves alongside our values.

Which historical parallels offer the best warnings (or inspiration) for the AI revolution?

The AI revolution mirrors past technological shifts—like the printing press, industrialization, nuclear power, and the internet—offering both inspiration and warning, and reminding us that how we govern, distribute, and guide AI will determine whether it empowers humanity or deepens inequality and risk.

What assumptions about intelligence might we be getting completely wrong — in both humans and machines?

Our assumptions about intelligence—like equating it with problem-solving, consciousness, or human-like thinking—can blind us to its diverse, contextual nature, risking flawed AI design and undervaluing the full spectrum of human and machine potential.

If AI one day claims to have subjective experiences, how would we ever know if it’s telling the truth?

Since subjective experience is private and unverifiable—even in humans—we may never truly know if an AI is conscious, leaving us to judge by behaviour, consistency, and complexity, while grappling with the ethical risk of mistaking mimicry for real inner life.