Research from the University of Bradford and RIT shows that AI systems aren't conscious, even when they appear to be. Tests adapted from human consciousness research revealed that AI can produce "conscious-like" signals even when degraded, highlighting why complexity doesn't equal awareness and why claims of conscious AI are misleading. Researchers from the University of Bradford and the Rochester Institute of Technology applied scientific methods used to assess consciousness in humans to artificial intelligence systems, including large language models similar to ChatGPT. Their conclusion is clear: AI is not conscious, even when it sometimes appears to be. The findings push back against growing hype around machine sentience.
Being smart and strategic enough to convince humans you're conscious is not the same thing as experiencing anything at all.