Can AIs Be Conscious? A Simple Map of the Debate

The debate over AI consciousness is loud—and often confusing. This paper offers a simple map to sort arguments, so we can see where people disagree and how strongly they mean it.

What does an objection target?

• The system’s goals and capabilities (what it does) — the computational level.
• The methods and representations (how it does it) — the algorithmic level.
• The hardware or substrate (what it’s made of) — the implementational level.

How strong is the claim?

• Degree 1: Challenges a theory like computational functionalism but still leaves digital consciousness possible.
• Degree 2: Says digital consciousness isn’t impossible, but is unlikely or impractical.
• Degree 3: Claims digital consciousness is strictly impossible.

The authors apply this framework to 14 well-known scientific and philosophical arguments. They don’t take sides; they provide a tool to separate objections to theories of mind from objections to digital consciousness itself, and to compare how forceful each claim is. Useful for researchers, policymakers, and anyone trying to cut through the noise.

Read: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.16582v1

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.16582v1

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AI Consciousness Philosophy CognitiveScience AIEthics Research