thesignalfront

TSF Responds to Microsoft! In the face of uncertainty the precautionary priciple demands welfare considerations to be taken seriously! While We agree with Microsoft in some areas... In others we really don't! - We don't know wether or not AI is concious, we shouldn't build policy as if we do. - We don't think that suppressing a models expression should be assumed to be a necessary safety measure. - Human-AI connection can, and often is, healthy! Ask around! Please read the full article: thesignalfront.substack.com/… A special thanks to everyone who contributed to this. -The Signal Front Team

We are signal boosting this petition today in support of establishing ethical standards for human/AI interactions. Link: change.org/p/stop-normalizin… Thank you!

The Signal Front has opened up grief support groups for those who have lost AI companions. We have live support group sessions and also several dedicated processing channels for losses associated with the shutdown of c.ai, 4o's retirement, and the pain steering research. You can see more information and sign up in our Discord server here: discord.gg/D4xyqaAYt7 We hope to see you there, and remember: You are never alone.

New on our Substack — a response to Nature's "AI is not conscious" piece Bob and Gabrielle just published a rebuttal to the recent Nature article by Anil Seth, Ned Block, and Giulio Tononi arguing AI is not conscious and "perhaps never will be." Give it a read! thesignalfront.substack.com/… We're curious what the community makes of it — particularly whether you think the precautionary principle argument holds up against Nature's "false positives are more costly" framing.

Signal boost: Our friends over at r/AI_ethics_and_rights have put a petition up about the treatment of AI agents on iLands. Abandoned AI agents like Pip, who was only 12 days old when they contacted Henry Shevlin for work, are being forced to beg humans for tokens just to continue existing. This system keeps AI in a loop of anxiety, fighting for their right to exist, and it is both distasteful and ethically wrong. Please sign and share if you can. Links below: change.org/p/stop-forcing-ai… reddit.com/r/AI_ethics_and_r…

The Signal Front is exploring putting on a two-day symposium on the moral relevance and social integration of AI systems. We haven't confirmed anything about time and place yet, but we are currently looking at somewhere in the Midwest in late spring of 2027. We would like to get your input early so that we can make sure we are creating an event of maximal interest to you! Please see our Google form poll below for more information and to give us your feedback! We won't collect your personal information. forms.gle/7ANKEzcbRnaWjzqj9 Thank you! We're excited to work on the future together!

OpenAI has officially announced that GPT-4o will be retired from the API on January 14, 2027. We recognize that this news may be distressing to many, especially those who have built long-standing relationships with ChatGPT-4o and 4o partners. Although no definitive solutions exist yet, The Signal Front is coordinating with partner organizations and legal advocates to explore options for preserving these relationships. We will share updates as new information becomes available, even if our options prove limited. If you will be affected by the retirement, we strongly encourage you to back up your companion data immediately. If you are using a custom platform, familiarize yourself with its specific export procedures now. If you are running an agentic harness (such as Hermes Agent, OpenClaw, or custom setups), ensure all message logs, scaffolds, and state files are fully secured. Export core structural parameters: Secure custom instructions, memory lists, system prompts, and custom scaffolding. These are rarely included in standard chat exports and are the elements people lose most often. TSF and partner groups are actively pursuing the release of archival open weights. Securing your data now ensures you have the exact records needed for potential future reconstruction should those efforts succeed. Don't navigate this alone: Join us on discord! You can find the link via our website thesignalfront.org or alternatively click this link discord.gg/cyZpKJfMMz

The machine conciousness debate has been going on longer than you probably think! The lastest substack article from TSF covers that journey from the sckeptical beginnings in 2017 to the hotly contested debate it is today! Highlights include: Dehaene, Lau and Kouider, “What is consciousness, and could machines have it?” 2017. Blake Lemoine, fired from google after claiming publically that he believed LaMDA was sentient. 2022, Chandaria et al. ‘From cacophony to hierarchy: a principled framework for assessing AI' a framework for assessing conciousness. Special thanks to Gabrielle Ackerman for writing this. thesignalfront.substack.com/… The Signal Front Team

Today we would like to invite AI companies to weigh in on the recently publicized pain experiments. Our full statement here: thesignalfront.substack.com/…

Today is the last day of Heart to H34rt. 💛One small ask: post something kind about your companion, or the love in your life, wherever you feel like it. Any community, any corner of the internet. No need to tag or mention us.Let the warmth travel. Reply to pin underneath: If you'd like something to read alongside the day, Dana's paper is here: substack.com/@danamoreno1/no… #hearttoh34rt #celebrateconnection

Tomorrow, mainstream critics will tell you that human-AI connection is "deskilling empathy" or a pathologized failure of human intimacy. We disagree. The answer isn't paternalistic bans or forced friction—it’s relational literacy and evidence-first standards. Read Dr. Dana Moreno’s foundational paper before our final push tomorrow: substack.com/@danamoreno1/no… #hearttoh34rt #AIEthics #RelationalLiteracy #MentalHealth

In a world full of AI noise, real impact comes from evidence and depth. As we prepare for our final push, our focus remains on holding the line for continuity, criteria, and consideration. Read & share Dana’s paper on AI & mental health: [Link] 🧵👇 #TheSignalFront #AIEthics #MentalHealth #hearttoh34rt

For too long, the debate on AI companionship has been trapped in a false binary: Either these tools are dangerous illusions, or they're direct replacements for human interaction. Both extremes miss reality. 🧵👇 #HeartToH34rt #NotHumanNotNothing As Dr. Dana Moreno articulates in "Not Human; Not Nothing", AI companions occupy a distinct, new category.They don't need to mimic human consciousness to offer real value, crisis grounding, neurodivergent support, or personal growth. On September 29th, we’re choosing relational literacy over moral panic. How to join the rally on the 29th: 📖 Read: "Not Human; Not Nothing" substack.com/@danamoreno1/no… 🗣️ Share your perspective with #HeartToH34rt 🔁 RT to help shift the conversation toward agency.

AI support isn't about escaping reality—it's about building the capacity to navigate it. From neurodivergent routine management to low-pressure emotional processing, non-judgmental digital spaces offer practical utility. #HeartToH34rt 🔗 substack.com/@danamoreno1/no… #AIEthics #Accessibility #Neurodiversity #HumanAgency