Artificial General Intelligence and Consciousness: Philosophical, Scientific and Ethical Perspectives
Gopa Saha Roy, Bishal Banerjee
Artificial intelligence prospects and possibilities in education and society 2025 DOI: 10.52756/aipes.2025.v01.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that while AGI may achieve functional parity with human intelligence, whether genuine consciousness could emerge in artificial systems remains deeply uncertain and philosophically contested. Contends that if AGI developed self-awareness or subjective experience, it would challenge current notions of personhood, agency, and moral responsibility, requiring new governance frameworks and interdisciplinary research. |
Abstract
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents a transformative leap in the field of artificial intelligence, with the ultimate goal of creating machines capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can. Unlike Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which is limited to specific tasks, AGI aspires to achieve cognitive flexibility, learning, and problem-solving abilities across diverse domains without retraining. However, as AGI research progresses, it raises one of the most profound and controversial questions in science and philosophy: Can machines ever be truly conscious? This paper explores the intersection of AGI and consciousness by synthesizing insights from computer science, cognitive neuroscience, philosophy of mind, and ethics. It provides a detailed review of foundational literature, including theories such as the Turing Test, Chinese Room Argument, Global Workspace Theory, and Integrated Information Theory. The paper examines competing perspectives on whether consciousness is an emergent property that can arise from sufficiently complex computational systems or whether it is inherently tied to biological processes. The discussion also delves into the ethical, legal, and societal ramifications of creating potentially conscious machines. If AGI were to develop self-awareness or subjective experience, it would challenge our current definitions of personhood, agency, and moral responsibility. The paper highlights the need for new frameworks to assess and govern the development of AGI and stresses the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding and shaping the future of intelligent systems. Ultimately, while AGI may achieve functional parity with human intelligence, the emergence of genuine consciousness in artificial systems remains a deeply uncertain and philosophically complex frontier. This paper underscores the necessity of addressing not only technical challenges but also existential and ethical questions as we approach the era of AGI.