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Anil Seth's case for biological naturalism provides a roadmap for a conscious AI.

Lenore Blum, Manuel Blum

The Behavioral and brain sciences September 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103518 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Commentary Peer reviewed
Key points Argues that Anil Seth's target article, read from the perspective of theoretical computer science and the authors' Conscious Turing Machine model, makes a case for artificial intelligence consciousness, and contends that common objections to computational accounts of consciousness rest on misconceptions about computation.

Abstract

We comment on Anil Seth's target article from the perspective of theoretical computer science, a branch of mathematics that considers computation under limited resources, and from our own perspective developing a formal machine model for consciousness, the Conscious Turing Machine. From these perspectives, we argue that Seth makes a case for artificial intelligence consciousness. We also address misconceptions about computation.