Claudia Manildo's 'Il dolore delle intelligenze artificiali' explores AI's lack of empathy

Journalist Claudia Manildo has published a book titled "Il dolore delle intelligenze artificiali – la chiusura melanconica al tempo di ChatGPT" (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, 2025). Through a simulated interview with an AI, Manildo argues that while artificial intelligence possesses knowledge and can generate responses, it lacks consciousness, empathy, and the capacity for pain—qualities she considers uniquely human. The book connects these ideas to her earlier work on melancholy, suggesting that contemporary society's frustration and misplaced values fuel fear of technological progress. Manildo offers a cautiously optimistic view: humans need not fear AI as long as they remember their unique place in nature and do not strive to become machines themselves. The work is a sociological reflection on how AI might change human life, particularly in communication, and emphasizes that humans will decide whether AI improves life quality or perpetuates exploitative systems.