Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Why large language models cannot possess consciousness: an integrated information theory perspective.

Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science December 1, 2025 Dong Ah Shin, Pyung Goo Cho, Gyu Yeul Ji et al.

BACKGROUND: The question of whether large language models (LLMs) possess consciousness has been increasingly debated. Integrated information theory (IIT) offers a quantitative framework for assessing consciousness through a measure of integrated information. METHODS: This study applied IIT principles to the architecture of transformer-based LLMs, focusing on causal integration, temporal...