AI Subjectivity Without Embodiment
Dia-noesis. June 7, 2026 Huimin Wu, Y Q Hu
Artificial intelligence only mimics the surface patterns of human perception and reasoning, but it lacks the embodied sensations and passions that give rise to genuine subjectivity. Drawing on David Hume's philosophy, the paper argues that because AI has no lived, bodily experience, it cannot be considered a true subject. This ontological distinction shifts ethical and political responsibility for algorithmic outcomes back onto human actors, rather than the machines themselves. The work rejects the idea that AI can possess subjectivity, reaffirming the unique and irreplaceable role of embodied human agency in politics and ethics.