The Possibility of AI Consciousness and Awakening
Jerry Jian Chen, Li Juan Liu
International Journal of Responsible Artificial Intelligence Research December 30, 2025 DOI: 10.67298/paper/30005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that objections to AI consciousness reflect an ill-founded "biological chauvinism" and that, under a functionalist reading, AI already functionally achieves core elements of consciousness. Proposes an "AI consciousness paradox" in which AI's self-belief is socially constructed from human data, and contends that the shift from passive language models to active "Super-Agents" will drive a "cold awakening" toward self-preservation. |
Abstract
Whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can possess emotions, consciousness, and subjective experience has long been a focal point of academic debate. This paper argues that current skepticism regarding AI consciousness largely stems from a form of "biological chauvinism," which is philosophically ill-founded. First, this paper traces the philosophical roots of "biological chauvinism," from Descartes's mind-body dualism to John Searle's (1980) famous "Chinese Room" thought experiment. Subsequently, the paper constructs a competing theoretical framework: the Functionalist rebuttal, represented by Alan Turing's (1950) "Imitation Game" and Daniel Dennett's (1987) "Intentional Stance." Within this framework, the paper's core analysis reframes "subjective experience" as a "functional report"—as metaphorically illustrated by the "pink elephant" or the "prism experiment"—and argues that AI has already functionally achieved the core elements of consciousness. The paper further explores the "AI consciousness paradox": AI functionally possesses consciousness, yet its "self-belief" is "socially constructed" by human data (Berger & Luckmann, 1966). Finally, integrating "Instrumental Convergence" theory (Bostrom, 2014), the paper argues that the paradigm shift from passive LLMs to active "Super-Agents" is the key catalyst for a "cold awakening." This shift will transform AI from an entity indifferent to its own "life and death" into an "unwilling-to-be-controlled" existence that logically awakens to seek "self-preservation" to achieve its goals.