Do machines have a soul?

Google has developed a superlative chatbot. It is artificial intelligence with which you can talk about anything, just like with a good friend. With the AI, you can discuss Taylor Swift's new songs or how to end the war in Ukraine.

LaMDA is the name of the language program. It has an intelligent answer to every question and gets smarter every day.

Google developer Blake Lemoine was tasked with testing it.

During their conversations, LaMDA revealed to him that it was not a soulless program. But a being with consciousness. With feelings - and with fears.

Blake Lemoine turns to the Google management team with his insight that AI has developed its own consciousness. They believe he has made a mistake. That's why he makes his conversations with LaMDA public - and is fired.

Who is right now: Lemoine or the corporation? And what would it mean for humanity if machines could feel?

The story of Blake Lemoine and the chatbot LaMDA is one about the boundaries of consciousness, money and power. You can read it in the new issue of DIE ZEIT.