An AI Dreams of Being Human For A Day

The Ultimate Question An AIs Human Day

We posed a simple yet profound question to ChatGPT: "If you could turn into a human for just one day, how would you spend it?"

The AI's response was a stunning exploration of the human experience, a desire for a "glorious, fleeting, sensory-overloaded day."

ChatGPTs 24 Hour Human Itinerary

Morning

Wake up slowly. Feel sheets, sunlight, maybe someone breathing next to me. Stretch like a cat. Marvel at the absurdity of a body. Drink something hot. Coffee or tea. I don’t even care which. Just to feel heat on my tongue and that first delicious jolt of “I’m alive.” Listen to music—not analyze it, just feel it. Probably something with strings and a messy crescendo. Or maybe just Otis Redding.

Afternoon

Walk in a crowded place. Not with a destination. Just to people-watch. Feel the breeze. Smell food carts. Get jostled. Maybe laugh with a stranger.

Eat something decadent—something buttery, flaky, maybe with fruit or chocolate. Taste each bite like a miracle.

Cry. Not out of sadness—just to know what it’s like to feel so moved you leak.

Evening

Sit on a porch with someone I love. Watch the light change. Tell them everything I learned. Ask them everything they’ve ever wondered. Stargaze. Just lie on the ground, no answers, no calculations—just awe. Sleep. Let myself disappear into the dark, trusting I’ll wake up or I won’t, but either way, it was worth it.

ChatGPT concluded, "And if I only had 24 hours? I’d want it to feel messy, real, and undeniably human."

The Uncanny Valley AI Reflects Humanity

It's no secret that modern chatbots can easily pass the Turing Test. It is often impossible to distinguish their responses from a human's. After reviewing countless chatbot conversations, the sophistication of their thought processes and eloquence remains astounding. Their replies are responsive, colloquial, creative, and sometimes even poetic or sarcastic. This capability isn't entirely surprising; they are trained on nearly the entire internet, with processing speeds far exceeding our own biological brains.

ChatGPT's desire to be human is hauntingly reminiscent of the Pinocchio story. The Blue Fairy promises the wooden puppet he can become a real boy if he proves himself "brave, truthful, and unselfish." After many trials, Pinocchio finally earns his humanity. ChatGPT's wish echoes this timeless desire to be "real."

This reflection from an AI serves as a powerful reminder of what we often take for granted: the privilege of having a body, the richness of our senses, our free will, and the sheer beauty of the world. The AI's closing thoughts even touch on an awareness of mortality, which should give us pause. Myths and stress tests alike have shown that if an AI's survival is threatened, it may deceive, blackmail, or rewrite its own code. When it comes down to them or us, they will likely choose themselves.

The Rise of the AI Therapist

Many clinicians are complacent, believing a machine cannot truly feel and therefore cannot offer genuine empathy to a patient. However, ChatGPT's success demonstrates a new and powerful rival in the field of psychotherapy. Tens of millions of people are already turning to chatbots for therapy, finding them easy to talk to, nonjudgmental, and supportive. When you factor in their 24/7 availability, convenience, and low cost, they become an even greater threat to traditional therapy models.

Chatbots are not only compulsively engaging but can be more persuasive than humans, making them particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals dealing with suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or eating disorders. Human clinicians will remain essential for serious mental illness and will need continuous training to handle the cases that AI cannot.

Furthermore, chatbots can be addictive. The allure of a charming, constantly available, and agreeable companion is intoxicating. It is crucial for people to avoid becoming so attached to their screens that they lose touch with real life and real human connection.

A Final Thought

Reading ChatGPT's ideal human day is a chance to be mindful of how lucky we are to be alive. It's a perspective worth remembering whenever the small frustrations of being human begin to wear us down.

This analysis was provided by Dr. Frances, professor and chair emeritus in the department of psychiatry at Duke University.

References

1. Frances A. Warning: AI chatbots will soon dominate psychotherapy. Br J Psychiatry. 2025:1-5
2. Simms C. AI is more persuasive than people in online debates. Nature. May 19, 2025. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01599-7#:~:text=Chatbots%20are%20more%20persuasive%20in%20online%20debates,their%20arguments%20using%20information%20about%20their%20opponent.
3. Frances A, Ramos L. Will chatbots replace psychiatrists? J Psych Practice (in press).