Consciousness in AI Systems: A Review
Mosladdin Mohammad Shueb, Xiangdong Che
International Journal of Artificial Intelligence & Applications March 28, 2025 DOI: 10.5121/ijaia.2025.16205 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that scientific theories of human consciousness can be used to investigate consciousness in AI systems, and that methods exist to identify, measure, and attribute such consciousness. Contends that safety implications of endowing AI with functions of human consciousness create a new dimension of "consciousness-based AI safety" to protect AI and artificial general intelligence. |
Abstract
Existing Artificial Intelligence (AI) can replicate many features of human consciousness. Active research in the field of AI consciousness uses scientific theories of human consciousness to investigate and simulate features of consciousness in AI systems. Approaches and models used in existing AI systems align with theories of consciousness. As a result, content generated by AI reflects features of human consciousness such as creativity and imagination. In many scenarios, AI and the human brain are unable to provide reasons behind their decision making. However, neural networks in task specific AI are more efficient in processing large amounts of data than humans. As a result, there are growing concerns around AI consciousness. Our study addresses these concerns by reviewing scientific theories of consciousness that can be used to investigate consciousness in AI systems. We particularly expound on different methods that can identify, measure, and attribute consciousness in AI systems. Our review explores safety implications from endowing AI with functions of human consciousness. We contend that these implications create a new dimension of consciousness-based AI safety to protect AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).