Navigating the Hard Problem of Machine Consciousness in the Age of Artificial General Intelligence
Soumi Ghosh, Ritik Raj
Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics December 12, 2025 DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-5530-6.ch005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that current AI lacks the unified information integration, temporal self-continuity, and self-purpose intention necessary for consciousness, and that machine consciousness requires architectural creativity beyond scaling. |
Abstract
Due to the development of advanced AI systems, machine consciousness has become a matter of philosophical and scientific discussion. This literature work discusses theoretical approaches, empirical issues and methodology of establishing consciousness in AGI. We revisit Integrated Information Theory, Global Workspace Theory and Higher-Order Thought Theory, finding advertising gaps between behavior competence and phenomenal experience. Our multi dimensional framework goes beyond Turing Test. The AI today does not have unified information integration, temporal self-continuity, and self purpose intention necessary to define consciousness. We suggest a taxonomy of consciousness indicators and map out gaps in research that must be filled with interdisciplinary work, and conclude that machine consciousness needs architectural creativity other than scaling.
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| From dopamine to salience to psychosis--linking biology, pharmacology and phenomenology of psychosis. | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 20
- On a confusion about a function of consciousness Behavioral and Brain Sciences June 1, 1995
- An information integration theory of consciousness BMC Neuroscience November 2, 2004
- Ten Problems of Consciousness The MIT Press eBooks November 17, 1995
- Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems Nature Reviews Neuroscience April 20, 2016
- A Theoretically Based Index of Consciousness Independent of Sensory Processing and Behavior Science Translational Medicine August 14, 2013
and 15 more in the library