Bardo Machines and the Grammar of Consciousness

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Jun 7, 2026 · 21m

Language philosopher Bry Willis explores the enigmatic nature of artificial intelligence through the lens of language and comparative religion. He posits that large language models exist in a state of unmanifested potential similar to the Tibetan concept of the bardo, only gaining a temporary form of "life" during active user prompts. By examining the works of Derek Parfit and Galen Strawson, the text critiques the human tendency to assume that consciousness requires a continuous life narrative or even an internal experience. Willis suggests that these machines are sub-episodic, possessing a…