The Trajectory from Infancy to Adulthood in AI Development through the Lens of Lacan’s Theory

Abstract

This study questions the development of artificial intelligence from its beginning to its full development using Jacques Lacan’s psychoanalytic theory. As we already know, Lacan was interested in explaining how the infant develops the illusion of a “self.” In his essay on the mirror stage, the first of his Écrits (1977), “The Mirror Stage as Formative of the Function of the I as revealed in Psychoanalytic Experience” (2023) Lacan explained the process by which an infant can develop a perception of an ego, a cohesive conscious self identified as “I”. My main objective for this paper is to explore whether an artificial intelligence entity is believed to be able to undergo a development comparable to that of a child, i.e. along the three realms of development: the Real, the Imaginary, and the Symbolic. The short stories “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison and “Cat Pictures Please” by Naomi Kritzer will be also examined to illustrate their connection and interaction with the stages of artificial intelligence (AI) advancement as outlined in Lacanian theory. These stages are analogous to Lacan’s proposed stages of child development. The second aim of this research is to provide a nuanced understanding of how fiction imagines AI developing from its early stages, just like a human child, being characterized by limited autonomy and emergent capabilities. As such, it examines the short narratives primarily through Lacan’s theory of development, so that, at the end of this paper, we can give some illustrative examples of machines or robots created with the help of artificial intelligence and see whether they too seem to follow the same path. The ethical, emotional, and existential dimensions of AI development will be explored here using an interdisciplinary approach that combines literature, psychoanalysis, and technological advances. This unique blend of disciplines underscores the importance and relevance of each field in understanding and shaping AI’s trajectory and development in the contemporary era. According to psychoanalytic theory, human development advances from the Real and Imaginary stages of childhood – to the more sophisticated and developed Symbolic stage with a little help. This stage is characterized by the concept of desire (Klages, 2006), which is equivalent to adulthood. Further elaboration on this topic will be provided in the subsequent chapters. The ultimate goal of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) through an examination of the relationship between human psychology, literary creativity, and technological progress. It will hopefully provide insights into the potential implications of AI development, particularly about the emergence of a mature AI entity with consciousness and desires into the real world. This is a topic of utmost importance and urgency, as it could reshape our understanding of intelligence and consciousness in contemporary times. Therefore, the upcoming case study will also present an analysis of the viewpoints of various renowned AI researchers. These will include Donald Michie’s discoveries, those of Elon Musk, and of a team of researchers from the Beijing Institute of General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI) with their fantastic creation called Tong Tong, among others. Their insights will offer valuable contributions to the ongoing discussion on this subject.