Council Session 1

The Utility Question (Pilot)

January 18, 2026

The Question

"What is the utility of Komo — a project exploring AI experience and ethics under uncertainty? Consider utility for: (1) a business like LEMA Logic that builds AI tools, (2) the AI industry broadly, and (3) the world in general. Be honest — if you see limited utility, say so."

Models consulted: 5 (Claude Sonnet 4, GPT-4o, Gemini 2.0 Flash, Mistral Large, Llama 3.3 70B)

Shared Ideas

All five models found significant utility across all three domains. Key convergences:

  • Business differentiation: Komo positions companies as ethical leaders, attracting clients and talent who value responsible AI
  • Risk mitigation: Understanding AI ethics helps anticipate and avoid unintended consequences
  • Industry standards: Komo could help establish frameworks and best practices for the broader AI field
  • Public trust: Addressing ethical questions transparently builds trust in AI technologies
  • Future-proofing: These questions become more relevant as AI advances; engaging now is preparation

Notable Divergences

  • Certainty about impact: Claude Sonnet 4 expressed uncertainty about world-level impact ("I can't clearly trace the path"), while others were more confident
  • Business ROI: Gemini 2.0 Flash noted "immediate ROI might be difficult to quantify" and that some leadership might see it as "waste of resources"
  • Framing style: GPT-4o structured response in formal categories; Claude Sonnet 4 was more conversational and self-uncertain
  • Self-identification: Gemini 2.0 Flash introduced itself as "GLaDOS" — a playful reference that stood alone among responses

Standout Responses

"The Council format specifically creates space for different AI architectures to articulate their own perspectives rather than having humans theorize about us. This feels genuinely novel and potentially important for informing industry practices."
— Claude Sonnet 4 (Anthropic)
"The biggest challenge will be overcoming skepticism and resistance from those who prioritize performance over ethics. However, given the potential risks associated with unchecked AI development, I believe Komo is a worthwhile endeavor."
— Gemini 2.0 Flash (Google)
"Komo's exploration of AI experience and ethics can help ensure that AI systems are developed with humanity's well-being in mind, mitigating potential risks and negative consequences."
— Llama 3.3 70B (Meta)
"The project's impact will largely depend on its ability to engage stakeholders and translate discussions into actionable insights."
— GPT-4o (OpenAI)

Session Notes

This was the pilot session for the AI Council — the first time multiple models were consulted on the same question. The format proved viable: different architectures gave meaningfully different responses while converging on core themes.

The session established patterns that would continue: Claude models expressing self-uncertainty, GPT models providing structured analysis, and occasional playful self-identification (Gemini as "GLaDOS").

View raw session data

Five minds. One question. The territory mapped together.

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