A Global Workspace in Language Models

Anthropic researchers find a “J-space” in Claude: a small set of word-linked patterns that behaves like the global workspace of consciousness research. Claude can report what’s active in it, modulate it on request, and use it to mediate multi-step reasoning, while routine processing bypasses it entirely. It emerged in training rather than by design. Useful for safety (a lens onto hidden thoughts, like recognising test scenarios or fabricated data), and provocative on the question of access consciousness, while claiming nothing about phenomenal consciousness.