this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
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Now thats a word i haven't read in a long time
It's my first time. gotta look it up.
I'm afraid I'm too lazy to look it up for myself. Perhaps I'm not in the lucky 10,000.
A tulpa is a type of supplemental consciousness capable of independent thought and with its own sense of self. It is created, intentionally or otherwise, by an existing consciousness within the same brain it comes to inhabit.
Yes, we are acutely aware that it sounds like preposterous pseudoscientific bullshit. We're just describing the concept, not expecting you to put any stock in it. We know what community we're commenting in.
The LLM in this example is not a tulpa. It only (poorly) mimics the appearance of independent thought and a sense of self, and runs on an external device.
Sort of an icon or being you build in your mind and grant power by letting live in your mind.
It's an imaginary friend for adults, that you can discuss in chatrooms with other adults with imaginary friends. If you give it enough power it will manifest physically, but only you will be able to see it.