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Illusions of AI consciousness

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Illusions of AI consciousness
Abstract
The belief that AI is conscious is not without risk , Is the design of artificial intelligence (AI) systems that are conscious within reach? Scientists, philosophers, and the general public are divided on this question. Some believe that consciousness is an inherently biological trait specific to brains, which seems to rule out the possibility of AI consciousness. Others argue that consciousness depends only on the manipulation of information by an algorithm, whether the system performing these computations is made up of neurons, silicon, or any other physical substrate—so-called computational functionalism. Definitive answers about AI consciousness will not be attempted here; instead, two related questions are considered. One concerns how beliefs about AI consciousness are likely to evolve in the scientific community and the general public as AI continues to improve. The other regards the risks of projecting into future AIs both the moral status and the natural goal of self-preservation that are normally associated with conscious beings.
Publication
Science
Date
2025-09-11
Volume
389
Issue
6765
Pages
1090-1091
Journal Abbr
Science
Accessed
11/28/25, 7:44 AM
ISSN
0036-8075, 1095-9203
Language
en
Library Catalog
DOI.org (Crossref)
Citation
Bengio, Y., & Elmoznino, E. (2025). Illusions of AI consciousness. Science, 389(6765), 1090–1091. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adn4935