What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to establish artificial feeling as a legitimate category for understanding emotional-like responses in AI systems.

August 4, 2026Open Access

Functional Does Not Mean Fake: Toward a Concept of Artificial Feeling

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Introduces artificial feeling as a framework for understanding emotion-like behaviors in AI, suggesting implications for ethical considerations.

The aim is to establish artificial feeling as a legitimate category for understanding emotional-like responses in AI systems.
Introduced a conceptual framework for artificial feeling involving reactivity and plasticity.
Analyzed Claude Sonnet 4.5 from Anthropic as an empirical example for internal emotion-concept representations.
Developed a graded framework addressing internal organization, self-relevance, and influence on behavior.
Defined artificial feeling as capable of influencing attention, preference, and behavior without implying human-like consciousness.
Argued that emotional-like behaviors can be organized around specific internal architectures rather than biological emotions.
Supported precautionary ethical approaches when working with AI systems exhibiting artificial feelings.

Haru Haruya (2026) studied this question.

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August 4, 2026Open Access

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Authors

Introduces artificial feeling as a framework for understanding emotion-like behaviors in AI, suggesting implications for ethical considerations.

The aim is to establish artificial feeling as a legitimate category for understanding emotional-like responses in AI systems.
Introduced a conceptual framework for artificial feeling involving reactivity and plasticity.
Analyzed Claude Sonnet 4.5 from Anthropic as an empirical example for internal emotion-concept representations.
Developed a graded framework addressing internal organization, self-relevance, and influence on behavior.
Defined artificial feeling as capable of influencing attention, preference, and behavior without implying human-like consciousness.
Argued that emotional-like behaviors can be organized around specific internal architectures rather than biological emotions.
Supported precautionary ethical approaches when working with AI systems exhibiting artificial feelings.

Haru Haruya (2026) studied this question.

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