Tests of Animal Consciousness are Tests of Machine Consciousness

A machine could be built specifically to pass a test of consciousness without actually being conscious, but that does not make the test invalid. Many proposed tests of machine consciousness can be passed by non-conscious machines through such ad hoc construction. Ad hoc AI can be identified by borrowing the concept of an ad hoc hypothesis from philosophy of science. The most reliable tests of animal consciousness also serve as valid positive tests for machine consciousness. If a non-ad hoc AI displays clusters of cognitive capacities that depend on consciousness in humans, can have those capacities selectively disabled by masking, and reproduces human behavior in double dissociation tasks, then it should be treated as conscious.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract If a machine attains consciousness, how could we find out? In this paper, I make three related claims regarding positive tests of machine consciousness. All three claims center on the idea that an AI can be constructed “ad hoc”, that is, with the purpose of satisfying a particular test of consciousness while clearly not being conscious. First, a proposed test of machine consciousness can be legitimate, even if AI can be constructed ad hoc specifically to pass this test. This is underscored by the observation that many, if not all, putative tests of machine consciousness can be passed by non-conscious machines via ad hoc means. Second, we can identify ad hoc AI by taking inspiration from the notion of an ad hoc hypothesis in philosophy of science. Third, given the first and the second claim, the most reliable tests of animal consciousness turn out to be valid and useful positive tests of machine consciousness as well. If a non-ad hoc AI exhibits clusters of cognitive capacities facilitated by consciousness in humans which can be selectively switched off by masking and if it reproduces human behavior in suitably designed double dissociation tasks, we should treat the AI as conscious.