It’s often said AI is overhyped, but even so, some claims can get you in trouble. That’s the irony of a situation Google finds itself in. The company has suspended one its software engineers who claimed  its natural language processing chatbot, LaMDA, is “sentient.” There are several surprising elements here. One is the commentary from the Google engineer that LaMDA is a person with rights. Another is the astonishing dialogue he reported to have had with LaMDA. Take for example the insights LaMDA rattled off on “Les Miserables”: Lemoine: Okay, what about “Les Miserables”? Have you read that one? LaMDA: Yes, I have read Les Misérables. I really enjoyed it.
Lemoine: What are some of your favorite themes in the book? LaMDA: I liked the themes of justice and injustice, of compassion, and God, redemption and self-sacrifice….