[Art]

Does a being necessarily refer to a Human? What about spiritual beings...ghosts, etc.? Are animals not beings? I didn't say human beings...just beings.

I consulted three different, well known dictionaries for a definition of "being". Here is what I found:

1.) A living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently.

2.) One's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.

3.) bē′ing, n. existence: substance: essence: any person or thing existing.

Therefore given that there is a need for it to act or function independently, couldn't a chatbot or vocal A.I. (really good one) be considered a being?

Somewhat different from an Entity for that can just denote whether something is or isn't as opposed to its qualities.

Therefore a really good chatbot / A.I., robot, android could easily be classed as a being and perhaps an entity as well.
Human? Not to my thinking but perhaps the term "Human-like" will one day apply.

More logs for the fire....

[Maviarab]

As the phrase goes, I think, therefore I am.

[WriterOfMinds]

Some of those dictionary definitions, while not incorrect, seem strange in light of the way the word is popularly used. E.g. Definition 3 implies that rocks and spoons and automobiles are all "beings," since all of those are things existing.  I think most people would feel weird calling an inanimate object or a plant a "being" (leaving aside those who believe in panpsychism and consider such entities to have some sort of mentality or consciousness).

Personally I think that "being" is a good fit for anything that has personality and agency, so some AI would certainly qualify. Whether they are sentient beings is another can of worms entirely.

[Art]

You mean all those little wriggly "beings" in that can? 

[ranch vermin]

to beat or not to beat.
to better or not to better.
to best or not to best.

[Thierry]

A being is an intelligent matter.

[ranch vermin]

Ive got a couple of pot plants out the back that i swear are being,  whenever i water them they do a little spring shake,  its funny,  i think they are remembering things.