While Descartes’ reflections on his own thinking (cogito, ergo sum – “I think, therefore I am”) emphasize conscious thought, much of what we consider thinking can occur without the full awareness that characterizes consciousness. AI can mimic many aspects of human thinking, but without the self-aware, subjective experience that defines consciousness.
In summary, while ChatGPT and other AI systems can perform tasks that involve thinking, they do so without consciousness. They process information and generate responses based on algorithms and data, but they do not have awareness or subjective experiences. This distinction is crucial in understanding the current capabilities and limitations of AI.