A philosopher at the University of Cambridge says we currently have too little reliable evidence about what consciousness is to judge whether artificial intelligence has crossed that threshold. Because of that gap, he argues, a dependable way to test machines for consciousness is likely to stay beyond reach for the foreseeable future.
As talk of artificial consciousness moves from science fiction into real-world ethical debate, Dr Tom McClelland says the only “justifiable stance” is agnosticism: we simply won’t be able to tell, and that may remain true for a very long time, if not indefinitely.
McClelland also cautions that consciousness by itself would not automatically make AI ethically important. Instead, he points to a specific type of consciousness called sentience, which involves positive and negative feelings.
“Consciousness would see AI develop perception and become self-aware, but this can still be a neutral state,” said McClelland, from Cambridge’s Department of History and Philosophy of Science.
“Sentience involves conscious experiences that are good or bad, which is what makes an entity capable of suffering or enjoyment. This is when ethics kicks in,” he said. “Even if we accidentally make conscious AI, it’s unlikely to be the kind of consciousness we need to worry about.”
“For example, self-driving cars that experience the road in front of them would be a huge deal. But ethically, it doesn’t matter. If they start to have an emotional response to their destinations, that’s something else.”
To read more, click here.