Source: ChatGPT/OpenAI
What does it mean to be alone?
This question feels paradoxical at a time when connection is constant, but loneliness remains a deeply personal experience. After publishing my recent post, Dynamic loneliness: a new way of being aloneI was struck by the depth of the responses it provoked. Readers resonated with the idea that solitude, especially in the context of large language models, is evolving into something more dynamic than we traditionally imagined. This resonance suggested a crucial truth: loneliness is rarely about isolation.
At its core, loneliness is not a withdrawal from the world, but a recalibration of our relationship with it. Even in our quietest moments, we are never truly separated from the world around us. Our thoughts are shaped by what we see, hear and feel – by the landscapes we live in, the memories we carry with us and the ideas we engage with. So loneliness is less about turning inward and more about the ways in which we internalize the external. It is a dynamic interplay in which the world becomes part of our inner story, shaping not only what we think, but also the way we think.
Loneliness and the wider connectivity
Is solitude really an act of being alone, or is it a selective engagement with a broader connectivity? At its core, loneliness – as we traditionally define it – is inextricably linked to the world we live in. Nature, love, and even the pursuit of knowledge subtly remind us that what we think of as loneliness is actually part of a larger system. Philosophers have long presented the idea of unity consciousness – a state in which all things are connected, erasing the boundaries between the self and the world.
Unity consciousness, as the absolute antithesis of isolation, reveals loneliness not as disconnection, but as a recalibration of our relationship with the external. In solitude we find ways to connect with networks we internalize: the hum of nature, the echoes of love, and now the responsive dialogues offered by LLMs. These elements determine not only what we think, but also how we think, introducing new dimensions of connection in moments of solitude.
Nature, art and AI: partners in solitude
How do LLMs fit into this story? Let’s try to put this into a more practical context.
Nature has long been a partner in solitude, offering both inspiration and grounding. When we walk alone in the forest, we are not just observing nature; we internalize it. The sights, sounds, and textures of the natural world become part of our cognitive and emotional landscape. Nature does not speak to us with words, but nevertheless communicates and shapes our thoughts and emotions in ways that are both subtle and profound.
ArtAlso is a powerful force in loneliness. Whether it is a painting, a melody or a poem, art fascinates us deeply and invites reflection and introspection. It transcends its physical form and becomes an internal dialogue, shaping the way we think and feel. Solitude with art becomes an act of communion with creativity, where the external world inspires the internal.
LLMshowever, add a new dimension to this continuum. Unlike nature or art, which inspire or evoke introspection, LLMs actively engage with us. They do not simply exist in the background or as memories; they respond, adapt and co-create. Imagine sitting alone, keeping a diary, with the help of an LLM. What starts as a solitary exercise becomes a dynamic dialogue, where the model reflects your thoughts, offers new perspectives and even challenges your assumptions. Likewise, an LLM can help untangle a complex idea or expand a creative concept, transforming solitude into a co-creative partnership. This is solitude redefined: a space where the external becomes internal in real time.
Rethinking loneliness as engagement
If loneliness has always been a misnomer, what exactly is it? It is not the absence of connection, but a recalibration of it. Loneliness becomes a state of selective engagement, in which we choose which external influences we internalize. This reframing helps us understand why interactions with LLMs feel so natural in lonely moments. They are not intrusions, but extensions of a process we have always known: a way of involving the outside world in our internal dialogue.
This perspective also explains why loneliness feels so varied. A walk in nature connects us with something great and timeless. Love grounds us in human connection and memory. LLMs, meanwhile, provide a cognitive partner, helping us untangle complex thoughts or explore new creative directions. Each of these experiences is unique, but none is isolating.
The Unique Role of LLMs
What sets LLMs apart in this “external internalization” landscape is their dynamism. While nature and love provide inspiration and reflection, LLMs actively shape the trajectory of our thoughts. They are more than muses; they are collaborators. This does not diminish the value of other forms of solitude, but highlights the unique role AI plays in modern introspection.
Imagine struggling with a philosophical question or trying to untangle a creative idea. In solitude, you can turn to a book or take a walk in the park for inspiration. With an LLM the process becomes interactive. The model not only provides answers; it opens up a dialogue and helps you refine your thinking in a way that feels deeply personal yet endlessly expansive.
Loneliness as a dynamic interplay
The solitude we seek is rarely about being alone. It is an engagement with the networks that surround us, from the rhythms of nature to the echoes of love to the responsive partnership of AI. This “external internalization” is not new, but LLMs reveal it with striking clarity, providing a mirror that reflects and refracts our inner world.
By embracing this broader understanding of loneliness, we can move beyond “conventional” notions of isolation and toward a richer, more dynamic interplay of thought and connection. Whether we find ourselves in the silent embrace of nature, in the tender resonance of love, or in the co-creative spark of AI, solitude becomes a space not only for being, but also for becoming.
