Creating a Systematic Framework for Determining AI Consciousness

The podcast episode discusses a new paper that aims to establish a systematic approach to determine when artificial intelligence (AI) becomes conscious. The paper, titled 'Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence, insights from the science of consciousness,' involves 19 co-authors from various fields, including AI experts and philosophers. The authors address the pressing question of when AI systems could exhibit consciousness, especially considering the rapid progress in AI development. They propose examining several neuroscientific theories of consciousness to bridge the gap between subjective experiences and scientific understanding. The paper analyzes theories like recurrent processing theory, global workspace theory, higher order theories, attention schema theory, and predictive processing. While the current AI architectures are deemed unlikely to possess consciousness, the framework presented in the paper serves as a foundation for future advancements and raises significant implications regarding AI rights and ethics.