Future of Life Institute Podcast Will Future AIs Be Conscious? (with Jeff Sebo)
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May 16, 2025 
Join philosopher Jeff Sebo from NYU as he navigates the intriguing landscape of artificial consciousness. He explores the nuances of measuring AI sentience and the ethical implications of granting rights to these systems. Sebo discusses substrative independence and the relationship between consciousness and cognitive complexity. He raises critical questions about AI companions, the moral status of machines, and how intuition contrasts with intellect in understanding consciousness. This thought-provoking conversation reveals the tightrope between innovation and responsibility.
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Complexity of AI Individuality
- Defining an AI "individual" is complex due to software's distributed nature and instances.
- This challenges understanding AI consciousness and implications for moral consideration.
Uncertainty About Consciousness Substrate
- Consciousness may require specific material substrates or architectures; uncertainty remains.
- Leading theories vary between biological naturalism and computational functionalism.
Navigating AI Consciousness Uncertainty
- Balance the risks of over- and under-attributing consciousness in AI.
- Make rough probability estimates and calibrate risk mitigation accordingly.