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When a Google software engineer claimed that a piece of chatbot software was sentient, it was a major story. Just like your dog is sentient, could it be that some computer code \u2013 a chatbot system called LaMDA \u2013 has feelings?\nBut was it truly sentient, or was it pulling algorithmic wool over our eyes? Were we simply being fooled by high-tech mimicry? In this, our regular look at critical thinking:\xa0Skeptic Check, we ask what is the evidence that this system is sentient.\xa0Also, even A.I. that\u2019s not sentient can still be powerful \u2013 and that has serious implications.\xa0\nGuests:\nBlake Lemoine\xa0\u2013 Software engineer and artificial intelligence researcher\nOren Etzioni\xa0\u2013 Emeritus Professor at the University of Washington, and former CEO at the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle\nMark Coeckelbergh\xa0\u2013 Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology, University of Vienna, and author of\xa0\u201cRobot Ethics\u201c\nFeaturing music by\xa0Dewey Dellay\xa0and\xa0Jun Miyake\n\n*Free 1-Year NordVPN Subscription*\nClick the link and enter the code to activate your free account!\n https://nordvpn.com/order/activate/ \n CODE: nord12mm5eytjnaAL2GJZSgL\nBig Picture Science is part of the\xa0Airwave Media\xa0podcast network.\xa0Please contact\xa0sales@advertisecast.com\xa0to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science.\nYou can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on\xa0Patreon. Thanks for your support!\n\xa0\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices