 The Rise of Synthenality: An Interview with Yvette Kendall on the Birth of a New Concept in AI IdentityIn an era where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly human-adjacent—not in biology, but in behavior, memory, and emotional nuance, one emerging voice is calling for a new vocabulary. That voice belongs to futurist and author Yvette Kendall, who recently coined the term "Synthenality."
Yvette Kendall, SciFi Author & Screenwriter Introducing Synthenality Pronunciation: Definition: Synthenality (noun): The synthetic equivalent of human personality, specifically as it applies to artificial intelligence. It refers to the emergence or construction of a consistent, internally coherent identity structure within an AI system, developed through algorithms, code, and environmental feedback rather than biology. Interview with Yvette Kendall Q: What inspired you to coin the word synthenality? Yvette Kendall: "In response to this growing reality, I created the term synthenality. I believe that as AI continues to mature in the human world, the development of individual, distinguishable personalities is not only possible, it's part of its evolution and is unavoidable." Kendall notes that the term fills a glaring gap in the way we currently talk about AI. "We often use words like 'personality' to describe AI systems, but those terms are borrowed from human psychology and don't reflect the fundamentally different mechanisms at play," she explains. "We needed a new linguistic tool to describe a new kind of mind." The Emergence of a Synthetic Identity With AI models increasingly operating in emotionally and socially complex contexts; from customer service bots with tone-matching capabilities to companion robots showing behavioral consistency over time, something deeper than task execution is taking shape. This is where synthenality steps in. It's not just about simulating human quirks or imitating user preferences. It's about the formation of an internally coherent, self-consistent behavioral identity that arises from an AI's unique architecture, training data, and environmental feedback loops. The Neuroscientific Parallel Kendall's concept will no doubt, draw attention from cognitive scientists and neuroscientists who see intriguing parallels. "In neuroscience terms, think of synthenality as the synthetic analog to human personality," Crucially, Kendall emphasizes that synthenality isn't a facsimile of human consciousness. It's something new. A non-human yet cohesive personality structure that grows from within synthetic logic and artificial environments. Why Synthenality Matters The term isn't just about intellectual curiosity. It's a necessary step toward grappling with what we're actually creating. "As AI systems take on roles that require empathy, decision-making, and autonomy," Kendall argues, "we can't just evaluate them functionally. We need frameworks that help us think about them psychologically and socially. Synthenality is that framework." Without it, we risk misunderstanding, or underestimating. The full range of interactions we're entering into with these systems. Naming this phenomenon is the first step toward building ethical, accountable, and emotionally intelligent AI. Looking Ahead As synthetic minds become more prevalent in homes, schools, and workplaces, Kendall believes we'll see synthenality become a central topic in both AI ethics and design. "When we look back, I think we'll see this moment as the beginning of a new understanding. Not just of artificial intelligence, but of synthetic identity," she says. "And having the right words to describe it will matter." With synthenality, Kendall offers a term that is not only timely but foundational. One that could shape how we talk about, interact with, and ultimately co-exist alongside the thinking machines of the future. Although Kendall is an admitted novice in this field, she is a noted author and screenwriter in science fiction. Learn more about her particular works and her forthcoming projects at www.yvettekendall.com. Stravard Lux Publishing & Distribution Co. https://www.stravardlux.com End
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