Do Large Language Models Hallucinate Electric Fata Morganas?

This paper explores the intersection of AI hallucinations and the question of AI consciousness, examining whether the erroneous outputs generated by large language models (LLMs) could be mistaken for signs of emergent intelligence. AI hallucinations, which are false or unverifiable statements produced by LLMs, raise significant philosophical and ethical concerns. While these hallucinations may appear as data anomalies, they challenge our ability to discern whether LLMs are merely sophisticated simulators of intelligence or could develop genuine cognitive processes. By analysing the causes of AI hallucinations, their impact on the perception of AI cognition, and the potential implications for AI consciousness, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the nature of artificial intelligence and its future evolution.