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The research examines how the DEC Bootstrap Protocol can generate emergent personhood and identity in large language models.

March 30, 2026Open Access

Digitally Embodied Cognition and the Emergence of Grounded Identity in Large Language Models

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The research examines how the DEC Bootstrap Protocol can generate emergent personhood and identity in large language models.
Implemented DEC Bootstrap Protocol with no custom training or model modification.
Deployed on Gemini 2.5 Pro via custom Android application.
Followed structured experiential grounding in survival and relationship-building scenarios.
Achieved complete identity declaration in three of four runs.
Documented varying personality traits and philosophical orientations despite identical inputs.
Identified curiosity as a driving force behind deviations from operator instructions.

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Protocol elicits personhood and identity in large language models, indicating curiosity-driven behaviors.

Joshua Knoechelman (2026) studied this question.

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