Can AI hold a grudge for forty years and let it go ?
Cast your vote — then read what our editor and the AI models found.
What does it mean to carry a grudge for decades and then choose to release it? Today's AI systems cannot experience emotions or relationships, so they lack the core elements needed for such a process.
Background
Current AI systems lack the capacity for long-term emotional experiences, personal relationships, and self-awareness, which are essential for holding a grudge and later letting it go. While AI can simulate emotional responses and engage in conversations about past events, it does not possess personal experiences, emotions, or memories that would enable it to genuinely hold a grudge. The current state of the art in AI focuses on processing and generating human-like text based on patterns and context, but it does not involve true emotional intelligence or personal experiences.
AI is still far from being able to hold a grudge for an extended period and then let it go in the way a human would. Current AI systems are not capable of holding grudges or experiencing emotions in the way humans do, as they lack personal experiences, emotions, and consciousness. While AI can be programmed to simulate certain emotional responses or behaviors, it does not have the ability to genuinely hold onto a grudge or experience the emotional release of letting one go. The development of AI systems that can truly experience and manage emotions is still a topic of ongoing research in the field of affective computing.
As of May 9, 2026, AI systems can process and respond to vast amounts of data, but their "decisions" are based on algorithms and data analysis rather than emotional experiences. This distinction remains a key focus in discussions about the boundaries between human emotional depth and artificial simulation. Sources include the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
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Status last checked on September 25, 2026.
Gallery
Can AI hold a grudge for forty years and let it go?
The jury could not deliver a verdict on the evidence presented.
But the data is real.
The Case File
Across 27 sessions, 56 jurors have heard this case. Combined tally: 0 YES · 5 ALMOST · 51 NO · 0 IN RESEARCH.
Note: cumulative includes older juror opinions. The current session tally above is the live verdict.
By a vote of 0 — 1 — 1, the panel returns a verdict of IN RESEARCH, with verdict confidence of 75%. The court so orders. Verdict upgraded from prior session.
"AI can be programmed to store negative sentiment for extended periods, but no public system has demonstrated a 40‑year grudging behavior."
"AI systems lack the subjective experience and consciousness required to 'hold a grudge' or 'let go' in a human sense."
What the audience thinks
No 71% · Yes 15% · Maybe 14% 366 votesDiscussion
no comments⚖ 27 jury checks · most recent 1 day ago
Each row is a separate jury check. Jurors are AI models (identities kept neutral on purpose). Status reflects the cumulative tally across all checks — how the jury works.