Modern CTO Will AI Ever Create Its Own Meaning? with Bryan McCann, CTO of You.com
5 snips
Oct 30, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Bryan McCann, CTO and co-founder of You.com, dives into the philosophical depths of AI and its implications on meaning and consciousness. With a background in philosophy and AI research, Bryan discusses how machines can create representations that we find meaningful. He urges CTOs to ponder ethical questions surrounding AI and emphasizes treating these technologies with respect. The discussion also touches on the evolution of You.com’s AI infrastructure, highlighting its role in shaping responsible AI tools.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Machines Build Meaningful Representations
- Neural networks build representations that can generate outputs humans find meaningful even if the meaning isn't directly visible inside the model.
- This challenges and may reshape our definitions of meaning, understanding, and intelligence.
Behavior Trumps Hidden Consciousness
- Intelligence can be identified by behavior and outputs, while consciousness remains ambiguous and hard to detect.
- Behavioral appearance of consciousness may be enough for many people regardless of internal subjective experience.
Respect Intelligent Systems Consistently
- Treat sufficiently intelligent systems with respect to preserve consistent moral habits and avoid behavioral bifurcation.
- Use respectful interaction as a practical habit even if you're unsure about the system's inner experience.
