As a framing device for explanation I think it serves to describe a situation provided that it is made clear that the distinction between what it is doing and a

As a framing device for explanation I think it serves to describe a situation provided that it is made clear that the distinction between what it is doing and actual consciousness is made clear. I feel it is very much like saying an electron wants to inhabit a lower energy level in an atom. Nobody believes that the electron exhibits desire, but framing it in that way enables people to predict what would happen in a given situation. It does get more complicated when we are approaching a level where people are seriously suggesting that there is thinking, awareness, and theory of mind going on in models. When people are arguing this position they make it very clear that they are talking about the real deal and not a metaphor or framing device.