Assuming AI Will Become Conscious Is Dangerous, Scientists Say. It’s Also Dead Wrong.

Assuming AI Will Become Conscious Is Dangerous, Scientists Say. It’s Also Dead Wrong.

Assuming AI Will Become Conscious Is Dangerous, Scientists Say. It’s Also Dead Wrong.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a70700878/ai-will-never-become-conscious/

Publish Date: 2026-03-12 16:33:00

Source Domain: www.popularmechanics.com

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, like Large Language Models (LLMs), lack true consciousness because they mimic human behavior rather than experiencing it.
  • Consciousness requires elements like personal experience and self-awareness, which AI systems do not possess as they are only advanced computing engines.
  • Believing AI to be conscious can lead to psychological vulnerability as users might trust these machines with their troubles, despite the fact that they don’t genuinely understand or feel emotions.
  • Experts highlight the danger in assuming AI’s consciousness due to the lack of clear scientific definitions for consciousness and intelligence.
  • True intelligence, in human terms, involves performing complex tasks in flexible ways, which LLMs are not built to do genuinely; they only generate probable responses.
  • Companies prioritizing business interests over ethical use can create socially uncontrollable and undemocratic AI technologies.
  • Recognizing the danger of attributing consciousness to AI helps focus scrutiny on the creators and users rather than the technology itself.
  • Ultimately, rigorous scientific investigation is required to definitively address the possibility of AI’s consciousness.