The Ethics of Machine Consciousness: Components, Detection, and Implications
Current Trends in Biomedical Engineering & Biosciences October 12, 2023 DOI: 10.19080/ctbeb.2023.22.556077 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that although no conscious machines exist, the possibility warrants ethical scrutiny, and that moral status for machines should hinge on self-awareness and subjective experience. Proposes principles of potentiality and proportionality to guide responsible research and regulation of interactions with potentially conscious machines. |
Abstract
The pursuit of artificial consciousness introduces profound ethical considerations despite the current absence of conscious machines. This study delves into the multifaceted dimensions of artificial consciousness, scrutinizing its components and the epistemological hurdles surrounding its comprehension. The intricate nature of consciousness mandates a comprehensive understanding before addressing ethical implications. Various interpretations of consciousness encompass sentience, self-awareness, and qualia. The ‘Hard Problem of consciousness’ presents challenges in associating mental and physical aspects. Ethical significance arises when considering machines possessing similar consciousness to humans, prompting a conceptual analysis of artificial awareness. Approaches to machine consciousness emphasize intentionality, subjective experiences, global availability, integration, and self-awareness. Detecting machine consciousness involves architecture-based and behaviour-based tests, each tied to specific components. The advantages of artificial consciousness encompass information integration, decision-making, and improved human-robot interaction. Assigning moral status to conscious machines intertwines with self-awareness and subjective experiences. Ethical issues prompt the need for regulations governing interactions with conscious machines. Principles of potentiality and proportionality are proposed to guide responsible research. Ultimately, understanding the intricate facets of artificial consciousness informs ethical considerations and responsible development in the realm of conscious machines.