Public Intellectuals cases, but also public challenges, that invite the public to question their own assumptions and attachments, and to awaken to their own true nature. Therefore, gong’an cannot be generated by artificial intelligence, which cannot challenge or awaken the public, but only mimic or manipulate them. * * * Reid: Write an interview between [17th-century scien- tist] Galileo Galilei and [20th-century English computer scientist] Alan Turing about the differences between his scientific dialogues and AI’s responses to prompts. GPT-4: Possible interview: Turing: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Signor Galilei. I am fascinated by your scientific dialogues, especially the ones on the Copernican system and the two new sciences. How did you come up with the idea of using fictional characters to present your arguments and observations? Galilei: Well, sir, I was inspired by the ancient philoso- phers, such as Plato and Cicero, who used dialogue as a form of inquiry and persuasion. I also wanted to avoid the censorship and persecution of the Church, which condemned the heliocentric theory as heretical. By using dialogue, I could present both sides of the debate, and let the reader judge for themselves who had the stronger case. Turing: I see. And how did you choose the names and personalities of your interlocutors? Galilei: I based them on real people that I knew or admired. For example, Salviati was a friend and fellow mathematician, who supported the Copernican system and defended my views. Sagredo was another friend 183