Introduction to Artificial Consciousness: History, Current Trends and Ethical Challenges
arXiv Preprint Archive March 5, 2025 Aïda Elamrani
Artificial consciousness (AC) is gaining attention as AI and consciousness science advance. This review traces the field's history, clarifies terms like Weak and Strong AC, and examines major implementation trends, highlighting the synergy between Global Workspace and Attention Schema theories and the challenge of evaluating artificial systems' internal states. It analyzes ethical dimensions, revealing both risks and opportunities, and offers recommendations for responsible AC research. The authors conclude that AC is both indispensable and inevitable for scientific progress, but serious efforts are needed to address its far-reaching impact.