Conscious artificial intelligence and biological naturalism.

The author argues that consciousness is unlikely to emerge from current artificial intelligence systems because it depends on biological life, not computation alone. People may mistakenly believe AI could become conscious due to biases, but true consciousness requires the organic nature of living organisms—a position called biological naturalism. The author considers scenarios where artificial consciousness might become more plausible if AI becomes more brain-like or life-like, but concludes this is improbable along current trajectories. Ethical issues arise from AI that either is or convincingly appears conscious. Overestimating machines risks underestimating human consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, it is natural to ask whether AI systems can be not only intelligent, but also conscious. I consider why people might think AI could develop consciousness, identifying some biases that lead us astray. I ask what it would take for conscious AI to be a realistic prospect, challenging the assumption that computation provides a sufficient basis for consciousness. I'll instead make the case that consciousness depends on our nature as living organisms - a form of biological naturalism. I lay out a range of scenarios for conscious AI, concluding that real artificial consciousness is unlikely along current trajectories, but becomes more plausible as AI becomes more brain-like and/or life-like. I finish by exploring ethical considerations arising from AI that either is, or convincingly appears to be, conscious. If we sell our minds too cheaply to our machine creations, we not only overestimate them - we underestimate ourselves.