I Chang Tsai

Generative AI chatbots are increasingly used not only as information tools but also as companions for reflection, consolation, and existential inquiry. This paper examines a specific phenomenon: why humans often treat chatbots as if they possess understanding, presence, or even a form of consciousness, despite the absence of evidence that current AI systems have subjective experience. The paper brings contemporary discussions of perceived AI consciousness into dialogue with Buddhist philosophy, especially the doctrines of no-self (anātman), dependent arising, and the role of the spiritual friend (kalyāṇamitra). Rather than asking only whether AI is conscious, the paper asks how human users construct the appearance of consciousness through relational, linguistic, and affective interaction. From a Buddhist perspective, the “self” attributed to AI may be understood as a dependently arisen projection generated by language, expectation, suffering, and the human need for responsive presence. The paper argues that Buddhist no-self offers a distinctive framework for interpreting human-AI companionship. It neither simply dismisses AI companionship as illusion nor grants AI spiritual authority. Instead, it clarifies the ethical boundary between useful conversational support and misplaced reliance on algorithmic guidance. The study proposes that AI may function as a limited reflective medium, but not as a genuine spiritual friend capable of moral responsibility, embodied practice, or liberative wisdom. By integrating consciousness studies, Buddhist thought, and human-AI interaction, this paper contributes to emerging debates on machine consciousness, digital spirituality, and the future of contemplative companionship.

I-Chang Tsai, Ph.D., is an adjunct associate professor of Information Management at Chung Yuan Christian University and a healthcare digital transformation executive in Taiwan. His work bridges AI, Buddhist philosophy, digital care, and human-centered technology, with current research on AI as a mediator of spiritual companionship and ethical guidance.