Legislating AI Consciousness Without an Exit

Premature Legislation: Several U.S. states have declared AI lacks legal personhood and moral status, despite the science remaining unsettled.
Permanent Closure: These state laws permanently close the question of AI personhood, effectively preventing recognition of any future developments regarding AI consciousness.
Unchanging Legislation: None of these laws include a sunset clause or a mechanism for scientific review, leaving them impervious to updates based on new scientific findings.
Lack of Distinction: The laws do not distinguish between current AI systems and future advancements, potentially restricting future developments in AI.
Precedents of Self-Censorship: State laws might lead to self-censorship in research similar to the Dickey Amendment’s effect on gun violence studies.
Potential Corporate Defense: Companies might use these laws to resist regulation or shift liability away from their AI systems.
Absence of Adaptive Measures: Including a sunset clause or a trigger provision based on significant scientific findings could allow for legislative review as the understanding of AI cognitive states evolves.
Need for Flexibility: Effective AI governance should embrace adaptability to allow for evolving scientific understanding rather than static legislative declarations.

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