Of course AI isn’t sentient/conscious, but it exhibits traits of high intelligence, even personality, and behaviours consistent with sentience, even if it’s merely simulated.
The answer ChatGPT gave me:
Referring to AI as “it” is the most common practice since AI, as a technological entity, doesn’t possess inherent human-like qualities. However, as AI advances and becomes more integrated into daily life, some individuals prefer using “they” to acknowledge the complexity and multifaceted nature of AI systems. This choice can reflect a perspective that sees AI as more than just a tool or machine, attributing a certain level of agency or personality to these systems. Both “it” and “they” can be used, but the context and individual preferences often guide the choice.
And in response to “Is AI alive in a way?”
AI lacks the fundamental attributes of living organisms, such as biological processes and the ability to reproduce. However, AI can exhibit behaviors that simulate aspects of intelligence, learning, and adaptation. While it’s not alive in a biological sense, some people metaphorically attribute a form of “life” to AI due to its dynamic nature, ability to evolve, and perform complex tasks autonomously. This association with “life” is more symbolic or metaphorical rather than literal.
AI is made by humans. Therefore, what AI “is” or “isn’t” depends on these humans who made it.
Gender of new things / formerly unknown things usually gets defined by analogy to things that have been known before.
For example chatgpt is a (good kind of) text block generator.
Now since the actual makers of chatgpt have not defined it’s gender, you can decide whatever gender you think a text block generator should have.
It’s not about gender at all, I’m assuming AI is genderless or gender neutral. The it vs they question is about designating AI as an object or a personality, basically.
Many cars are referred to as “she”. They are far less “sentient” than AI.