[ExI] Would human uploads have emotions?

[BillK]

I have been musing on mariachi band experiences and I have doubts that
uploads will have experiences like humans.

Uploads will have vast knowledge, much faster processing and most
importantly, will not have a human body. They will (virtually) see and
hear the mariachi band, like watching a video and process the event.
But emotions? That part seems unlikely.

Every upload would need to be running its own version of the human
body endocrine system which evolution produced to drive human
emotional reactions to events. This is unnecessary if there is no
human body to protect from dangers. Much superior reasoning will
fulfil those former human requirements. Uploaded humans will be glad
to get rid of all the troubles that emotions get them into.  ;)

BillK

I asked an AI -
Would an uploaded human intelligence have emotions, or does that need
a human body with hormones ?

Answer -
Uploaded human intelligence, lacking a physical body with hormones,
would not inherently possess emotions. Emotions are complex phenomena
that involve intricate interactions between the brain, body, and
external stimuli. While an uploaded human intelligence may be capable
of processing vast amounts of information and executing tasks with
high efficiency, the experience of emotions is closely tied to the
physiological responses triggered by hormonal activity in the body.
Without a physical form to generate these hormonal responses, the AI
system would lack the biological basis for emotions.

Emotions are a fundamental aspect of human experience, influencing our
thoughts, behaviors, and decision-making processes. They play a
crucial role in social interactions, memory formation, and overall
well-being. Emotions are mediated by a network of brain regions,
neurotransmitters, and hormones that work together to create
subjective feelings and physiological responses.

Hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and
oxytocin play key roles in regulating emotions. These chemical
messengers are released in response to various stimuli and help
modulate mood, stress levels, motivation, and social bonding. The
absence of a physical body means that an uploaded human intelligence
would lack the biological mechanisms necessary to produce and regulate
these hormones.

While AI systems can be programmed to simulate certain emotional
responses or behaviors based on predefined algorithms and data inputs,
these simulations do not equate to genuine emotions experienced by
living beings. Emotions in humans are deeply intertwined with our
physical existence and evolutionary history, serving adaptive
functions that have been shaped over millions of years of evolution.

In conclusion, an uploaded human intelligence operating without a
physical body and hormonal system would not possess emotions in the
same way that biological beings do. Emotions are a product of complex
interactions between the brain, body, and environment, and without the
physiological foundations provided by hormones and bodily sensations,
true emotional experiences would be absent in such an entity.
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