Mapping Vedantic Pañcakośas to AI-Powered Machine Existence: An Analogy of Sheaths in Human and Robotic Life

Abstract

Vedānta, a prominent philosophical school of thought, describes human existence through the concept of five sheaths, or Pañcakośas: Annamaya Kośa, Prāṇamaya kośa, Manomaya Kośa, Vijñānamaya Kośa, and Ānandmaya Kośa. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), machines specifically robots are increasingly being designed to mimic human functions. At present, these AI-powered robots exhibit limited cognitive abilities, but future advancements may enable them to outperform humans in certain domains. This paper explores the possibility of mapping the Panchkośa framework of Vedāntic philosophy onto the existence of AI machines, providing an analogy between the five (or fewer) sheaths that may characterize a robotic existence and the human sheaths. Furthermore, this work offers insights into the distinctions between human existence and contemporary AI machines, helping to illuminate the philosophical and existential differences between humans and intelligent machines. Further it puts forward few intriguing questions that Indian knowledge systems must address should AI robots achieve a fully developed system of Kośas. This model will evolve as developments in computer science continue to produce more advanced and intelligent robotic systems.