Can AI Ever Become Conscious? Can AI Ever Become Conscious?

Alan Turing's prediction that computers would one day fool humans in conversation has largely come true, but he doubted machines could ever be self-aware. Recent AI advances have revived debate about whether computers can achieve consciousness or a sense of agency. The answer depends on the theory of consciousness used: Integrated Information Theory equates consciousness with information processing, while Higher-Order Thought theory includes self-awareness and intentionality. This manuscript reviews and compares major theories of consciousness, focusing on awareness, attention, and the self, and examines whether AI technologies like machine learning and neural networks might enable some degree of consciousness or agency.

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Abstract

Almost 70 years ago, Alan Turing predicted that within half a century, computers would possess processing capabilities sufficient to fool interrogators into believing they were communicating with a human. While his prediction materialized slightly later than anticipated, he also foresaw a critical limitation: machines might never become the subject of their own thoughts, suggesting that computers may never achieve self-awareness. Recent advancements in AI, however, have reignited interest in the concept of consciousness, particularly in discussions about the potential existential risks posed by AI. At the heart of this debate lies the question of whether computers can achieve consciousness or develop a sense of agency—and the profound implications if they do.Whether computers can currently be considered conscious or aware, even to a limited extent, depends largely on the framework used to define awareness and consciousness. For instance, IIT equates consciousness with the capacity for information processing, while the Higher-Order Thought (HOT) theory integrates elements of self-awareness and intentionality into its definition.This manuscript reviews and critically compares major theories of consciousness, with a particular emphasis on awareness, attention, and the sense of self. By delineating the distinctions between artificial and natural intelligence, it explores whether advancements in AI technologies—such as machine learning and neural networks—could enable AI to achieve some degree of consciousness or develop a sense of agency.