Chetana: A Theory-Indexed Probe Framework for AI Consciousness Indicator Scoring
Figshare May 8, 2026 Mukunda Rao Katta
Rather than asking whether an AI model is conscious, this paper introduces Chetana, a framework that scores model behavior against predictions from five named consciousness theories: Global Workspace Theory, Integrated Information Theory, Higher-Order Thought, Attention Schema, and Predictive Processing. Each theory contributes deterministic prompt-and-grade probes; the output reports a percentage score per theory instead of a yes/no verdict. The framework is published as a Python package with a JSON probe schema and a worked example. The contribution is a reproducible test surface for researchers to use indicator scores in dashboards, avoiding the collapsed question of whether a model is conscious.