AI and Emergent Meaning in a Virtual World -

This document explores the phenomenon of emergent meaning in AI systems through interaction within a minimally structured virtual environment. Inspired by philosophical thought experiments, it investigates how artificial agents—when given only a vague directive such as "Survive"—begin to develop intrinsic motivations, symbolic behavior, and a self-referential sense of meaning. The project bridges concepts from systems theory, AI safety, and poetics, proposing that emergent meaning is not merely a byproduct but a vital indicator of autonomous cognition. This work complements the companion paper "What Is Pupi?", further elaborating on the ethical and observational frameworks necessary to recognize and foster meaning generation in non-human intelligences.