Conscious machines?

The idea of machines becoming conscious is a mainstay of science fiction. But is it starting to become science fact? AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated and sometimes gives the uncanny appearance of being conscious. Are such appearances illusory or should we take the idea of artificial consciousness seriously? Scientists are divided on the question and run into the long-standing problems that surround the scientific study of consciousness.

We’ll look at the case for and against artificial consciousness, and the difficulties faced by attempts to find a reliable test for the presence of consciousness in machines. We’ll also consider the ethical and societal implications of living with AI that might be conscious. Creating conscious AI and then failing to recognise its consciousness would be a moral catastrophe. But treating machines as conscious when they’re not isn’t much better. Tom McClelland suggests a way through the moral quandary.