Merleau-Ponty And Reimagining Perception in The Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Abstract

This research examines the intersection of Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenological philosophy with artificial intelligence (AI) to reframe the concept of perception in the modern age. Merleau-Ponty critiques traditional Cartesian dualism, which separates mind and body, asserting that perception is not an isolated mental process but an existential act rooted in the "lived body." His seminal work, Phenomenology of Perception, highlights the body as an active mediator that generates meaning through sensory and motor interactions with the world. In contrast, AI’s computational perception relies on algorithmic data processing, lacking the corporeality and subjective depth inherent in human perception. This divergence raises ontological questions (Is machine perception authentic?), epistemological inquiries (How does it compare to embodied understanding?), and ethical concerns (What are the risks of relying on bodiless systems in fields like medicine?).

The study analyzes the richness of human perception—derived from memory, culture, and intentionality—against AI’s fragmented, context-devoid processing. Despite advancements in embodied AI, such as sensory robots (e.g., Sophia) and cognitive systems (e.g., DeepMind), it remains incapable of achieving genuine consciousness or lived meaning. The research concludes that Merleau-Ponty’s perspective challenges AI’s limitations, urging a reconsideration of perception and consciousness in a technological era marked by increasing convergence yet a persistent fundamental gap between human and machine