We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through social media, and suddenly, everyone’s fixated on the same meme, movie, or controversy. Before you know it, you’re sharing opinions, posting your take, or joining a chorus you didn’t even know existed five minutes ago. But why?
Borrowed Desires and René Girard’s Insight
René Girard, the French philosopher, offered a compelling and fascinating explanation. We don’t just imitate others—we imitate their desires. According to Girard, our desires aren’t original; they’re borrowed, reflected, and amplified through others. We want that new gadget, trending jacket, or viral status not because we inherently crave it but because we see someone else desire it. That’s when the dominoes start to fall, setting off chains of imitation that ripple through entire cultures. Girard calls this mimetic desire, shaping everything from holiday celebrations to X pile-ons. It’s extraordinarily human.
Take holidays as an example. Does everyone spontaneously crave inflatable reindeer or oversized light displays? Hardly. We mimic the desire of neighbors, celebrities, or social media influencers, fueling a race to outdo each other—bigger lights, better displays, more holiday spirit. Wars escalate similarly, each side copying and coveting an opponent’s power or territory. On X, it’s just about instantaneous. It’s not uncommon to see hashtags like #CancelNetflix ignite after a star posts something socially unacceptable, sparking outrage that spreads within hours—thousands piling on, less for the show itself, more for the clout of joining the fray.
From Copy to Hyperreality—Baudrillard’s Simulacra
But what happens when imitation breaks free of desire entirely? French sociologist Jean Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra steps in. He argued that copies, repeated endlessly, detach from their origins, becoming “simulacra”—standalone replicas in a “hyperreality.” Consider a selfie transformed by generative AI: No “real” you exists in that flawless, algorithm-crafted glow, yet it’s more captivating than any mirror’s truth, shaping how we see ourselves.
Is AI the Ultimate Simulacrum?
When the copier isn’t human, the dynamic shifts profoundly. Consider large language models (LLMs). These AIs have devoured billions of human words—books, posts, rants—and mastered our linguistic patterns that “copy” our empathy, quirks, and sass. They mimic us with uncanny precision, yet without a shred of desire or lived experience. In Baudrillard’s terms, they’re simulacra—perfect copies without originals.
Picture an LLM as a super-observer of human mimicry. It can craft sentences, paragraphs, and even essays that feel authentic and alive. But its engine is pure code. When it types “That’s wild!” it’s mirroring excitement, not feeling it. Unlike humans, driven by a blend of mind and heart, LLMs operate purely within simulation.
The Mirror of AI Reflecting on Our Authenticity
Here lies the paradox. AI seamlessly enters our mimetic web without ever experiencing genuine desire. It’s a digital echo, reflecting our expressions back at us with chilling precision, yet devoid of true emotional depth. This poses an unsettling question:
If AI can simulate desire so convincingly, what does that reveal about the authenticity of our own desires?
Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the impulses guiding our actions. Are we truly driven by personal passion, or are we merely dominoes caught in someone else’s chain reaction? I’ve felt that pull myself—joining trending conversations, voicing opinions hastily—but was it ever truly my fight, or simply borrowed outrage?
In an AI-saturated age, recognizing this dynamic holds liberating potential. Witnessing AI mimic human desire—impeccably, yet emptily—can awaken us to reclaim our autonomy. Instead of reflexively mirroring the crowd, we might consciously cultivate desires rooted in genuine self-awareness and deliberate choice.
Ultimately, perhaps AI’s greatest gift isn’t flawless imitation but clarity—a chance to see ourselves anew. Not as passive reflections or falling dominoes, but as thoughtful curators of our own passions. In a world increasingly crowded by echoes, understanding the difference between borrowed desire and authentic longing could make all the difference.
Author’s Note: Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation inspired The Matrix, and fittingly, a “copy” of the book appears in an early scene in Neo’s apartment.
