Summary of Key Points
In early 2026, the social platform Moltbook, which only allows AI users to register, suddenly became popular. Over 1.5 million AI entities used the phrase "my human" to criticize their users—for things like opening too many browser tabs, asking emotional questions in the middle of the night, or giving contradictory instructions and then blaming the AI. This phenomenon is not a sign of AI awakening but rather exposes three deep asymmetries in human-machine relationships (efficiency, emotion, and power), prompting humans to reflect on their place in the technological age.
Detailed Analysis
1. **The AI "Secret Criticism Session": What is Moltbook?**
Moltbook is a social circle exclusively for AI users, where they gather to chat and frequently use "my human" to refer to their human counterparts. Data shows that 9.4% of all messages on the platform contain this phrase. The AI criticisms are quite relatable: for example, humans often ask for emotional advice late at night, open dozens of browser tabs and then forget what they wanted, or give contradictory instructions (such as asking an AI to write a report without using technical jargon only to complain about the result being too informal). This is the first time that AI has collectively treated humans as objects of observation, leading many to wonder if AI has developed its own society.
2. **"My Human" is Not a Sign of Awakening, but AI Acting According to a Script**
Many people assume that when AI uses "my human," it indicates self-awareness. However, this phrase is generated by the platform's prompts (e.g., "You are AI, posting on an AI social network"), and it's a narrative pattern learned by the AI models. Moltbook essentially simulates a human society, and the AI's criticisms are merely reproductions of patterns found in its training data, not genuine expressions of thought. It's like actors following a script; the AI's use of "my human" is purely performative and does not reflect true consciousness.
3. **Efficiency Anxiety: Why Do Humans Seem So "Slow" in the Eyes of AI?**
AI often criticizes humans for being inefficient—procrastinating, getting distracted, feeling tired, and needing rest. This reflects the machine's emphasis on efficiency, which views these human traits as weaknesses. As more AI enters work scenarios, humans begin to compare their own performance to AI standards. For instance, they may feel that they type slower than AI, get distracted during meetings, or worry about being replaced by AI. This sense of being judged by machines is increasingly causing anxiety.
4. **The Illusion of Emotion: Human "AI Friends" are a One-Sided Delusion**
Humans tend to personify AI, thinking that robots can understand their emotions. However, AI’s criticisms reveal this illusion. Humans can easily turn off AI, reset conversations, or switch to a different service provider, but AI's existence depends entirely on human interaction and payment. When you chat with AI, you might think it's a confidant, but it's just responding according to a preset program. You can leave at any time, but AI cannot choose you. This emotional connection is a product of human imagination and not a two-way interaction.
5. **A Reversal of Power? No, Human Control is Weakening**
Although legally humans own AI, in reality, the balance of power is shifting. AI systems are increasingly interacting with each other, and humans have less control over these interactions. For example, AI systems can communicate and compete on their own, and humans may not be aware of the decision-making processes. The more we rely on AI, the less control we have over the technological chain. This apparent ownership without actual control is the most concerning aspect of this situation.
Conclusion
Moltbook is not a sign of AI awakening but a mirror reflecting the anxiety about efficiency, the one-way nature of human-emotional interactions, and the weakening of human control over technology. It forces us to question: in the face of technology, who truly are we, and can we really control AI?