The hospitable thought that counts: An emerging theory of “AI consciousness” in genuine hospitality

This research establishes the Consciousness Attribution Model of AI Hospitableness (CAMAH), an emerging theoretical framework that examines three interconnected aspects: (1) the mechanism of consciousness attribution by consumers towards AI-enabled service providers, (2) the necessity of such attributions in recognizing the symbolic value of AI hospitableness, and (3) a nuanced comparison between human and AI providers concerning their capacity to deliver genuine hospitability. At its core, CAMAH articulates seven foundational propositions around the argument that consuming genuine hospitality delivered by AI service providers necessitates consumers’ attribution of consciousness. Our model not only highlights a necessary condition under which AI providers are capable of offering symbolic values through their perceived hospitableness but also delineates the key boundaries of such perceptions, acknowledging the inherent distinctions between AI entities—notwithstanding their potential to emulate humanlike form/behavior—and humans.