Caring in AI: Considering the LIDA model

The purpose of this article is to consider whether caring can be designed into an artificial intelligence system. Caring is complex. In our daily lives, caring takes several forms and occurs in various ways. This article discusses human caring and how caring has been a vital aspect of our lives since our early ancestors. The research focuses on the form of care a healthcare worker may provide in a clinic or hospital. The research considers whether this attentive form of caring can be designed into AI systems. The approach of this research is to consider a specific AI design known as the LIDA model. The research describes the cognitive cycle and the global workspace within the LIDA model. It also depicts elements in the LIDA model that can be associated with caring. The findings show that caring can occur through gestures and movements. The findings also show that a LIDA agent can perform such gestures and movements and offer an appearance of caring. The findings suggest that a LIDA agent, configured in a particular way, could be a carer in some caring situations. The practical benefit of this research is to show that the LIDA model can be a starting point for designing care in AI systems. Through this research, we may uncover elements of caring that already exist within the LIDA model and can be employed in a caring AI agent.